Individuals who wish to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab allows for the treatment client to take part in rehab services with the same commitment you might usually have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to address substantial substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will typically attend meetings and take part in therapy and treatment services part-time every day or several days a week. This is often helpful for those who have recently completed an even more complete inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is usually a really small amount of clients. For somebody with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs that provide rehabilitation over a long-term basis will probably be the more beneficial rehabilitation alternative.