Individuals who would like to maintain a certain amount of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab should they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab makes it possible for the rehab client to participate in rehab services with the same commitment one would usually have to agree to in an inpatient or residential drug rehab program. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation 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 an expedient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People that decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily attend meetings and take part in therapy and rehabilitation services part-time on a daily basis or several days weekly. This is helpful for individuals 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 short history of drug use which is really a really small number of clients. For a person with more severe drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehab centers which provide rehab on a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.