INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts owner Jim Irsay has voluntarily checked into a "highly respected" health-care facility to undergo treatment, the team announced Tuesday.
Irsay faces four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance after being arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving in the northern Indianapolis suburb of Carmel late Sunday.
"[Irsay] is committed to undergoing the treatment and care necessary to help him meet his challenges head-on," the team said in a statement. "Jim, the Irsay family, and the Colts organization are all deeply appreciative of the incredible outpouring of support and compassion from our fans and the Indiana community."
Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Irsay's daughter, is the principal of authority with Irsay in rehab, meaning that, in Irsay's temporary absence, she has the final say on decisions.
If convicted on the felony charges, Irsay could face six months to three years in prison on each count. Schedule IV drugs such as those with which Irsay was allegedly caught include Xanax, Valium and Ambien, which are considered to have relatively low risks for abuse or dependency, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Irsay acknowledged in 2002 that he had become dependent on painkillers after several orthopedic operations, but he said he had overcome the problem after undergoing treatment.
