Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab makes it possible for the treatment client to take part in rehabilitation services with the same commitment you might normally have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment facility. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial substance abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient option, it isn't for everybody. Those that do choose an outpatient rehab will generally show up at meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services part-time on a daily basis or several days a week. This is very helpful for those who have just completed a much 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 really small percentage of clients. For someone with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab centers which offer rehab over a long-term basis will be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.