Individuals who would like to maintain some flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the rehabilitation client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment you might usually have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment facility. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to resolve substantial drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. Those that do decide on an outpatient rehab will usually attend meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services part-time on a daily basis or several days a week. This is often helpful for individuals who have just completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and someone with just a short history of drug abuse which is really a very small percentage of clients. For someone with more significant drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment facilities which offer treatment on a long-term basis are going to be the more effective treatment choice.