This article focuses on the interplay between reported informal, formal and legal pressure and self-choice in treatment entry. The representative sample of those entering treatment for alcohol or drugs problems in Stockholm County, Sweden includes 1865 clients (71% men). Most respondents reported that it was their own idea to come to treatment (81%). It was also common to report reasons for entering treatment indicating different forms of perceived pressures, especially informal pressures (75%), but also formal and legal pressures. Informal pressure from someone close was a particularly important reason for treatment entry. Informal pressure was found to be positively associated with the feeling of self-choice in treatment entry, whereas perceptions of formal pressure (and particularly legal pressure) mainly were negatively related to self-choice. Most of those reporting self-choice in treatment entry also reported informal, formal, or legal pressure as reasons for coming to treatment.
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