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A US police department has come under fire for sharing disturbing photos of a passed-out couple who overdosed while driving with a child in the backseat.
“We feel it necessary to show the other side of this horrible drug," the East Liverpool police department wrote on the post.
"We feel we need to be a voice for the children caught up in this horrible mess."
"This child can’t speak for himself but we are hopeful his story can convince another user to think twice about injecting this poison while having a child in their custody."
They added that although they are "well aware" that some people may be offended by the photos, and for that they "are truly sorry", but "it is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis."
"The poison known as heroin has taken a strong grip on many communities not just ours, the difference is we are willing to fight this problem until it's gone and if that means we offend a few people along the way we are prepared to deal with that."
PHOTO: Facebook
The controversial photo that has sparked online debate. PHOTO: Facebook
After the incident, the little boy was put in child protective services while his parents face a number of charges, including child endangerment.
The controversial post has since garnered more than 12 000 reactions and over 28 000 shares on Facebook.
While some commended the police's decision to release the disturbing the photos, others were outraged with the department's shaming post, especially considering they failed to blur the little boy's face.
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