Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the treatment client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might normally have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation center. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve substantial substance abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in therapy and treatment services part-time every day or a few days a week. This is helpful for many who have just completed a far more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with just a short history of drug use which is really a very small percentage of clients. For a person with more severe drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab centers which provide rehab over a long-term basis will probably be the more beneficial treatment alternative.