Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to participate in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to in an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to address substantial drug abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those who decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services on a part-time basis daily or several days a week. This is helpful for many who have recently completed a much more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of substance abuse which is really a really small percentage of clients. For someone with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities which offer treatment over a long-term basis will probably be the more effective rehabilitation option.