Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows 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 drug rehabilitation facility. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those individuals who need to resolve significant drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People that choose an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and take part in therapy and rehab services on a part-time basis each day or several days weekly. This is helpful for individuals who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is usually a very small number of clients. For somebody with more severe drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab programs which provide rehab on a long-term basis will be the more advantageous rehabilitation choice.