Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment one would ordinarily have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve significant substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. People that choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily attend meetings and be a part of therapy and treatment services on a part-time basis every day or several days per week. This is often helpful for many who have just completed a much more comprehensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with just a brief history of drug use which is usually a very small amount of clients. For someone with more significant addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation centers which provide treatment over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.