Individuals who would like to maintain a lot of flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab if they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in treatment services with the same commitment you might normally have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab center. This doesn't always work in the treatment client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to address substantial drug abuse problems. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do decide on an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services part-time each day or a few days each week. This is often helpful for many who have recently completed a more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, or someone with only a brief history of drug use which is really a really small percentage of clients. For someone with more serious drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehab centers that provide rehab over a long-term basis are going to be the more advantageous treatment option.