DOWNEY JAILED AFTER ADMITTING DRUG USE

MALIBU, Calif. - Actor Robert Downey Jr. was slapped in handcuffs and led
off to jail for at least six weeks Tuesday after acknowledging - again -
that he is still doing drugs.

"I am going to recover, but I'm still finding that difficult," the
34-year-old Downey told Superior Court Judge Lawrence J. Mira.

The admission came after a series of arrests, failed rehabilitation efforts
and second chances for the Oscar-nominated "Chaplin" star.

The judge could have sentenced Downey to prison for three years for
violating probation by refusing to take a court-ordered drug test.

Instead, the judge ordered him jailed pending an Aug. 5 hearing to decide
what will happen to Downey next. He will be housed in the jail's drug
rehabilitation unit. The judge also ordered a psychiatric examination.

Downey previously acknowledged he has battled drugs for 2 decades.

After the 20-minute hearing, Downey, wearing a dark suit and tie, thanked
the judge and deputies led him away in handcuffs.

"Robert Downey Jr. came to court today with his drug counselor and admitted
he has a continuing drug problem. He asked the court for help and
guidance," his publicist Alan Nierob said in a statement.

Downey's return to jail comes 18 months after Mira scolded him for bingeing
on drugs and jailed him for six months.