Individuals who would like to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab should they need treatment for substance 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 drug treatment program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to solve significant substance abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everyone. Those who do decide on an outpatient rehab will usually take part in meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or several days each week. This is helpful for many who have recently completed a far more thorough inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with just a short history of drug abuse which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more severe addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehab centers which offer rehabilitation over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective treatment alternative.