Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in treatment services without the commitment you might normally have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment program. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to address significant drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that do choose an outpatient rehab will usually show up at meetings and be a part of counseling and treatment services part-time every day or a few days each week. This is often helpful for many who have just completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a short history of drug use which is usually a really small amount of clients. For an individual with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab facilities that provide rehab on a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial rehabilitation option.