Individuals who would like to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to take part in rehab services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to consent to in 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 resolve significant substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People that choose an outpatient rehab will generally show up at meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or a few days a week. This is helpful for individuals who have just completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with just a short history of drug use which is really a very small percentage of clients. For an individual with more serious addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab centers which provide rehabilitation on a long-term basis will be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.