Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab facility. This doesn't always work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to solve substantial substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. Those who choose an outpatient rehab will typically take part in meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis every day or several days a 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 for someone with only a short history of substance abuse which is usually a very small number of clients. For somebody with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities which provide rehabilitation over a long-term basis will probably be the more beneficial treatment alternative.