Coercion into treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) is practised throughout the world, and it has been the subject of a long-standing ethical debate . According to Klag (2006), critics of legal coercion argue that compulsory treatment may violate basic civil rights . Furthermore, they hold that autonomy should be safeguarded, because free will can provide psychological and therapeutic benefits. Another argument against coercion is that treatment can only be effective when the person is motivated and willing to change. In support of this view, many argue that substance users must hit “rock-bottom” before they are able to recognize that treatment provides benefits. However, others believe that some chronic drug users will not enter and remain in treatment unless they are coerced, and that professionals should have the authority to exercise that power. Still others believe that the authorities should play the role of a surrogate parent, and thus, they have an obligation to intervene on behalf of impaired citizens; this view assumes that, after recovery, patients will be grateful for the intervention .