Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab makes it possible for the rehab client to take part in treatment services without the commitment you might usually have to consent to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to solve substantial substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everyone. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services part-time daily or a few days a week. This is helpful for those who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small number of clients. For a person with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug rehabilitation facilities which provide rehab over a long-term basis will probably be the more advantageous rehabilitation alternative.