Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab when they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehab client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those individuals who need to resolve significant substance abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that do choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in therapy and rehab services part-time every day or a few days each week. This is very helpful for many who have just completed a much more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with just a brief history of substance abuse which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities that provide rehab on a long-term basis will probably be the more effective treatment alternative.