Individuals who want to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can engage in an outpatient rehab when they need rehabilitation for substance abuse. Outpatient rehab enables the rehabilitation client to take part in rehabilitation services without the commitment one would ordinarily have to agree to within an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. This doesn't often work in the treatment client's favor however, particularly for those individuals who need to resolve significant substance abuse issues. So although an outpatient rehab may seem like a convenient possibility, it isn't for everybody. People who do choose an outpatient rehab will usually show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services part-time on a daily basis or several days a week. This can be very helpful for many who have just completed an even more extensive inpatient or residential program as a good aftercare or maintenance step, or someone with only a short history of drug use which is usually a really small number of clients. For a person with more severe addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs which offer treatment over a long-term basis will be the more effective rehabilitation choice.