Teresa Giudice reveals during airport turmoil: “Daughter Milania tested positive for fentanyl” — behind-the-scenes look at mental health protective custody

Teresa Giudice (54), a star of the hit reality show The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and her daughter, Milania Giudice, endured an intense emotional breakdown at an airport that prompted police to respond, it has emerged. The incident drew particular attention after the family mentioned fentanyl, a deadly drug, and alleged that Milania had been unknowingly given drugs.

■ Body-camera footage from airport elevator obtained: “I want to save my daughter”

According to body-camera footage released by police at Tampa International Airport in Florida on the 29th (local time), officers responded last Wednesday to break up a serious emotional disturbance involving members of the Giudice family inside the airport.

In footage recorded inside an elevator, Teresa Giudice told officers about the recent incident and directly mentioned that tests had detected the opioid painkiller fentanyl in her daughter Milania’s system. Milania, who was standing nearby, insisted that she had not taken it intentionally, saying, “Someone secretly laced my medication or drink.” It has not been confirmed what substance exposed Milania to fentanyl or whom she suspects of being behind it.

■ Incident comes just before Baker Act intervention: Emergency transfer to mental-health facility

The airport disturbance reportedly occurred just before Milania was to be transferred to an involuntary mental-health evaluation and protective-care facility under Florida’s Baker Act. Florida’s Baker Act allows medical professionals and police to place someone experiencing a mental-health crisis and considered at risk of harming themselves or others in emergency protective custody at a mental-health facility for up to 72 hours.

In the body-camera footage, Gia Giudice, Teresa’s older daughter, told responding officers that the family had hired a professional counselor to help Milania. In a tearful voice, Teresa cried out to her daughter, “I want to save your life,” while Gia also tried to persuade the sobbing Milania, saying, “We’re doing this because we really want to help you.”

■ Fentanyl addiction risks brought back into focus as fans express grief and concern

There has been no official statement on exactly when Milania received treatment related to fentanyl or whether it was directly connected to the mental-health intervention.

As deadly opioid abuse and incidents involving illicitly mixed fentanyl have emerged as serious social problems in the United States, news of the tragedy experienced by the reality-TV star’s family has shocked the public. Fans have taken to social media to express concern and support, writing, “She went through something incredibly dangerous at such a young age,” and, “We hope the family can overcome this crisis together and focus on treatment.”