Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab if they need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment you might usually have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facility. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial substance abuse issues. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everyone. Those who choose an outpatient rehab will typically show up at meetings and be a part of therapy and treatment services part-time every day or several days a week. This can be very helpful for many who have just completed a more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with just a brief history of substance abuse which is usually a really small number of clients. For an individual with more significant addiction and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs which provide rehabilitation over a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial rehabilitation alternative.