Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to participate in treatment services without the commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment center. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve substantial drug abuse issues. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be an opportune possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that do choose an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services part-time each day or a few days each week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a far more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small amount of clients. For someone with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehab programs that provide rehab over a long-term basis will probably be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.