Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in treatment services without the commitment you might normally have to consent to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to solve significant substance abuse problems. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People that choose an outpatient rehab will typically attend meetings and be a part of therapy and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or several days each week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a much more thorough inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a short history of substance abuse which is really a very small percentage of clients. For someone with more serious drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facilities which offer rehabilitation on a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehab alternative.