Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would ordinarily have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug treatment center. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve significant drug abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will typically take part in meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services on a part-time basis every day or several days weekly. This is often helpful for those who have recently completed a more thorough inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with only a short history of substance abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab centers which offer rehabilitation over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehab option.