Information on involuntary psychiatric hospital treatment of all 12- to 17-year-old minors in 1990 and 1993 in Finland was collected from the national hospital discharge register. Involuntary treatment was associated with older age, psychosis diagnosis, and treatment in adult psychiatric ward. Treatment year, sex, and having previous psychiatric hospital treatment were not associated with involuntary treatment. Considerable differences were found when different health care districts were compared. In 12 of 22 districts there were no minors in involuntary treatment in 1993. For ethical and legal reasons the involuntary treatment of minors in adult settings can hardly be justified.