Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the treatment client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol 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 problems. So while an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People that decide on an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services on a part-time basis on a daily basis or a few days per week. This can be very helpful for individuals who have just completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, or for someone with just a short history of substance abuse which is really a really small percentage of clients. For a person with more severe drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment programs which provide treatment on a long-term basis will probably be the more beneficial rehab choice.