Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in treatment services without the commitment one would ordinarily have to consent to within an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehab program. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial substance abuse issues. So while an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will typically take part in meetings and be a part of therapy and treatment services part-time every day or a few days each week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or maintenance step, and for someone with just a brief history of drug use which is really a very small number of clients. For someone with more significant addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment centers which provide rehabilitation over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehabilitation choice.