Individuals who would like to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment you might ordinarily have to agree to in an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment center. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to solve substantial substance abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab might appear to be an opportune option, it isn't for everyone. People who choose an outpatient rehab will generally take part in meetings and be a part of counseling and rehab services part-time on a daily basis or several days each week. This is very helpful for individuals who have recently completed a far more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, and someone with only a short history of drug abuse which is really a very small number of clients. For someone with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug treatment programs that provide treatment over a long-term basis will probably be the more effective rehabilitation alternative.