Father films moment he tells son his mother died of heroin overdose

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- A heartbreaking video of a man telling his 8-year-old son that his mother had died of a drug overdose has gone viral.

The video is generating some criticism for the man who posted it to social media.

Critics have commented that posting the video exploits the child, but others have said it does some good by showing the horrible impact the addiction epidemic is having in our country.

Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark filmed telling his son that his mother, 29-year-old Lacy Wood, had overdosed and died earlier this month.

In the video, you can see and hear the disturbing reaction of the 8-year-old.

Clark said that this was the hardest thing he's ever had to do- he had someone film the moment- hoping it would save another life.

Clark said that his son did not know the video was being recorded. The father posted it after his son told him it was OK.

Ultimately he posted the video of his son crying into his grandmother's arms and dad's, as a wake-up call for drug addicts with families and especially those with children. It has gone global and has been viewed 25 million times.

"That was my motive in putting it out there, to show the impact it has on our children," explained Clark.

Clark has had his own problems in the past including drug abuse, but being sober and in recovery has given him his life back.

WFMJ reports that thousands have commented on Clark's page, mostly supportive but some negative. Several thought he should not have told his son how mom died.

Clark responded, "You want me to lie to my son and say oh what, it was a car wreck or suicide? No, I'm going to be honest with my son because you know what in the future when someone tries to offer him something, some drugs or whatever the case may be in whatever situation, maybe my son will think about this and see what it did to his family, see what it did to his mother."