The confronting image a mother wants the world to see of her two children posing with their dead father.

This mother wants the world to know what a heroin overdose really looks like: Death.

Warning this post contains an image that might be distressing for some readers.

Two children attend the funeral of their father.

An image is captured at the tragic event. The boy and girl, Lucas and Ava dressed in their best posing alongside their mother and father.

A straight tie and neatly combed hair for Lucas and Ava in a floral dress. The two children grin awkwardly, as though they have been told to smile for the camera.

A family photo. But unlike most family photos, in this one their father is dead.

Killed by a heroin overdose.

The children pose next to the open casket of their dead father and then their mother posts it on Facebook for the world to see.

It’s deliberately confronting and provocative — because the children’s mother has a message: Don’t let this happen to you.

The image Eva Holland posted has now been shared 250,000 times. For many, it’s important that it be seen right across the world to show the true face of what heroin can do to a family.

Eva says the raw, jarring image of her husband, 26-year-old Mike Settles, was just another of her selfies that she liked to take.

She wrote:

“I used to drive him crazy taking multiple selfies of us trying to get a good one. Tonight was no different. Between the tears I just couldn’t get it right. So even our final photo had to have a re-take. Thanks for giving the kids strength and being there for us tonight.”

Her beloved husband died on 2 September of a heroin overdose.

Mamamia has chosen to blur this image, which was originally posted on Eva’s Facebook page here.

The father of two from Cincinnati, Ohio in the US developed a heroin addiction after becoming hooked on pain medication.

“I’m sure this photo makes a lot of people uncomfortable [and] it may even piss a few people off but the main reason I took it was to show the reality of addiction,” Eva wrote on Facebook.

“I know a lot of people may be upset I’m putting it out in the open like this but hiding the facts is only going to keep this epidemic going,”

“The cold hard truth is, heroin kills. You may think it will never happen to you but guess what, that’s what Mike thought too.”

The couple’s Facebook pages show that Mike Settles had gone into rehab last year.

When he came home before Christmas, Eva says he was a brand new man, like the man she married 11-years ago.

“He had found his purpose for living again, he found his gorgeous smile again. He became the man, the son, the brother, the dad that we all needed him to be again,” she wrote.

But it was short-lived.

After taking a “single pill” for a toothache he had a relapse.

“He said he could handle it, that he could stop on his own and didn’t need to get help again. Well he was wrong, last Wednesday he took his last breath. My kids’ father, the man I loved since I was a kid, a great son and a great person lost his battle. I just needed to share his story in case it can help anyone else.”

The full post reads:

I’m sure this photo makes a lot of people uncomfortable it may even piss a few people off but the main reason I took it was to show the reality of addiction. If you don’t choose recovery every single day this will be your only way out. No parent should have to bury their child and no child as young as ours should have to bury their parent.

This was preventable it didn’t have to happen but one wrong choice destroyed his family. I know a lot of people may be upset I’m putting it out in the open like This but hiding the facts is only going to keep this epidemic going.

The cold hard truth is heroin kills. You may think it will never happen to you but guess what that’s what Mike thought too. We were together 11 years. I was there before it all started. I knew what he wanted out of this life, all his hopes and dreams. He never would’ve imagined his life would turn out this way. He was once so happy and full of life. He was a great son, brother, friend but most importantly he was a great dad. He loved those kids more than anything.

But as we all know sometimes life gets tough and we make some wrong choices. His addiction started off with pain pills then inevitably heroin. He loved us all so much he decided enough was enough and went to rehab at the end of last year. He got out right before Christmas as a brand new man. He had found His purpose for living again, he found his gorgeous smile again, he became the man, the son, the brother, the dad that we all needed him to be again.

He did so good for so long but then a couple months ago It started with a single pill for a “tooth ache” which inevitably lead him back down the road of addiction instead of staying the coarse of recovery. He said he could handle it, that he could stop on his own and didn’t need to get help again.

Well he was wrong, last Wednesday he took his last breath. My kids father, the man I loved since I was a kid, a great son and a great person lost his battle. I just needed to share his story in case it can help anyone else.

Her story has already started helping others. Her latest Facebook update tells of just one person it has helped.

“I was walking downtown this morning. This lady ran up to me crying and asked if she could hug me. I thought she was just having a bad day so I hugged her,” she writes.

“She said ‘I am a heroin addicted and was going to try and overdose last night but then I seen your post and you saved my life. I can never thank you enough!’ So we stood there hugging each other crying. This right here is what it’s all about.”

Eva says she wants this to save lives.

“Talking about the problem is truly helping,” she writes.

“Even if it a just for the day, this is saving lives. Thank you every one for sharing my post. Means more to me then you’ll ever know.”

Our thoughts are with Eva and her two children.

If you need help Family Drug Support Line: 1300 368 186