Individuals who wish to maintain some flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment center. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to address significant substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient option, it isn't for everyone. Those who choose an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis every day or several days a week. This is helpful for many who have recently completed a much more thorough inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with just a short history of drug abuse which is usually a really small amount of clients. For someone with more significant drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs which offer rehab on a long-term basis will probably be the more beneficial rehab alternative.