Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need treatment for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the treatment client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment one would usually have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation program. This doesn't always work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to solve significant substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient option, it isn't for everybody. People who choose an outpatient rehab will usually attend meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services on a part-time basis every day or a few days weekly. This is helpful for many who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a brief history of substance abuse which is usually a really small number of clients. For somebody with more significant addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs which provide rehabilitation on a long-term basis will be the more beneficial rehab alternative.