Individuals who want to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehabilitation for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehabilitation client to take part in treatment services without the commitment one would ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment center. This doesn't often work in the rehabilitation client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve substantial substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an expedient option, it isn't for everybody. People that do decide on an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and treatment services on a part-time basis each day or several days a week. This is very helpful for many who have just completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or upkeep step, or for someone with only a brief history of drug abuse which is really a really small number of clients. For an individual with more severe drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential drug rehab facilities which provide rehab over a long-term basis are going to be the more advantageous treatment choice.