Individuals who wish to maintain a lot of flexibility in their lives can take advantage of an outpatient rehab whenever they need rehab for drug or alcohol abuse. Outpatient rehab makes it possible for the rehab client to participate in treatment services with the same commitment you might normally have to agree to in an inpatient or residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation center. This doesn't always work in the rehab client's favor however, particularly for those clients who need to resolve significant drug abuse problems. So even though an outpatient rehab may seem like an opportune option, it isn't for everybody. People that choose an outpatient rehab will ordinarily show up at meetings and take part in counseling and rehab services on a part-time basis on a daily basis or several days per week. This can be very helpful for individuals who have recently completed a much more extensive inpatient or residential program as an effective aftercare or upkeep step, and for someone with just a short history of drug use which is really a really small number of clients. For someone with more serious addiction and dependency problems, inpatient or residential drug and alcohol treatment centers that provide rehabilitation on a long-term basis are going to be the more beneficial treatment alternative.