Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab if they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab makes it possible for the rehabilitation client to take part in rehab services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to in an inpatient or residential drug rehab program. This doesn't always work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to solve substantial drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will typically attend meetings and be a part of counseling and rehabilitation services part-time daily or several days a week. This is helpful for those who have recently completed a more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small amount of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab centers which offer rehab on a long-term basis are going to be the more advantageous rehabilitation alternative.