Individuals who want to maintain some flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab should they need rehab for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehab client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would usually have to consent to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment program. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to address substantial substance abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those that choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehabilitation services part-time on a daily basis or a few days a week. This can be very helpful for those who have recently completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or for someone with just a short history of drug use which is usually a really small amount of clients. For somebody with more significant drug abuse and dependency problems, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehab facilities which offer rehab on a long-term basis are going to be the more effective treatment choice.