Individuals who would like to maintain some flexibility within their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab should they need rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab will allow for the rehab client to participate in rehabilitation services without the commitment you might usually have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug treatment facility. This doesn't often work in the rehab client's favor however, specifically those clients who need to solve substantial drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab might appear to be a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. Those who decide on an outpatient rehab will generally attend meetings and be a part of counseling and treatment services part-time each day or a few days weekly. This is often helpful for many who have just completed a much more thorough 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 really small number of clients. For someone with more serious drug abuse and dependency issues, inpatient or residential alcohol and drug treatment facilities that provide treatment over a long-term basis are going to be the more effective rehabilitation option.