'I have something to tell you... mommy died last night': Father films the heartbreaking moment he tells his son, eight, that his mother overdosed on heroin - then puts it online for millions to see

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When a father sits down and tells his eight-year-old son his mother has died of a heroin overdose the boy's reaction is absolutely heart-breaking.

Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark posted the video on YouTube and it soon went viral, with many people on the internet whether he had the right to show the world the pain and suffering of his son. 

In the video Mr Bickerstaff-Clark, a pizza maker from Youngstown, Ohio, and a friend sit down at a picnic table with his son, Cameron.

The boy is sitting at a picnic table at a McDonald's with his dad (right) and a family friend

'I have something to tell you, OK?... Mommy died last night,' he tells him, as he holds his hand across the table. 

'What? What do you mean, my mom? How?' asks the shocked youngster.

'From drugs,' he is told.

The boy suddenly breaks down and weeps and Mr Bickerstaff-Clark's friend hugs him.

As the news of his mom's death sinks in the boy understandably bursts into tears

'I'm sorry' says his father.

Mr Bickerstaff-Clark then gets up and climbs over the table, adding: 'I love you. Do you need a hug?'

He then embraces his devastated son before turning to the person filming it and telling them: 'That's enough'.  

Mr Bickerstaff-Clark wrote on Facebook: This is for any and every addict with children. Today I had to tell my 8 year old son that his mommy died from a drug overdose last night. This is the realization and reality of our disease. Don't let this disease have to make someone tell your child that you're dead because of drugs. 

'This was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. My son has no mother because of heroin...kinda hard to hear but u can hear what we're saying. Please get help so our children don't have to suffer.'

Mr Bickerstaff-Clark goes on to deny it was staged and says: 'I am a recovering addict myself with 94 days clean today...please share n help maybe help save a child's parent's life.'

Mr Bickerstaff-Clark then reaches over and holds his son, telling him gently: 'I'm sorry'

The film has been viewed more than 14 million times on YouTube and around 24 million watched it on his Facebook page, where some criticized Mr Bickerstaff-Clark.

Jordan12 wrote: 'To put a moment like this online for the whole world to see is just ridiculous. that poor poor kid. i couldnt help but tear up!

'Its bad enough to find out your parent passed away especially from drug abuse but to have a constant reminder of how your father told u up on the internet forever! I'm a father of 2 young boys and "Dad" you should be ashamed of yourself!' 

Eventually Mr Bickerstaff-Clark gets up and walks around to his son, asking him: 'Do you want a hug?'

But Christen Villwock defended him on Facebook: 'All of the people who keep talking about bad judgement on this video.. i remember a couple months ago a picture going viral of a little 4 yr old boy in the back seat of a car where both grandparents passed out in the front seat.. and people werent mad at the cops for posting that.. this is the same situation... no different.. trying to raise awareness.. so think about it...' 

Youngstown is a rust belt city which has a major problem with heroin abuse.

Last year WFMJ reported a 25-year-old addict, Kayla Dempsey, begged a judge to send her to prison so she could get off heroin.

She said: 'There's a three-month waiting list for any rehab around here because of the heroin epidemic. It's faster to go to jail.'

The friend comforts him as his dad looks on, not knowing what to do or say

Shocking epidemic laid bare: People passed out in their cars and in the street in broad daylight

In June, a report from the United Nations warned of a heroin epidemic gripping America with cheap supply helping push the number of users to a 20-year high. 

In recent months authorities have said they are coping with an abnormal spike in the number of overdoses after heroin cut with elephant tranquilizer 10,000 times more powerful than morphine was being taken. 

Earlier this week, a daughter has live streamed her parents while they are apparently on a heroin binge in their living room.

The footage, shot in an unknown location in America, reveals the daughter and a man, whose connection to the couple is unknown, trying to wake the pair up as they slump in front of the TV. 

The daughter tries to shine a torch light in both of of their faces. The father rubs his eyes, but does not get up

Last week footage emerged of bystanders laughing at a married couple as they fell unconscious in the street in broad daylight after overdosing on heroin. 

The video showed a husband and wife writhing on the floor after snorting the drug in the bathroom of a nearby Walgreens before they pass out in the street in Memphis, Tennessee.  

Paramedics eventually arrived on the scene and revived Carla Hiers, 59, and her partner, who are both long-time drug addicts. She is seen on her knees before she loses consciousness. Her partner passes out while bent backwards over a bench. 

A crowd can be heard standing around and laughing in shocking footage that has emerged of bystanders laughing at a couple falling unconscious in Memphis after overdosing on heroin

Perhaps the most shocking image of the summer showed a couple slumped, passed out in their car with a four-year-old boy looking on from the back seat.

The image was shared on social media by Ohio police in a bid to raise awareness of 'this horrible drug'. 

The woman, 50-year-old Rhonda Pasek, who became known as 'heroin grandma', was sentenced to 180 days in jail after pleading no contest to child endangering. Her boyfriend James Acord received 360 days in jail for child endangering and operating a vehicle under the influence. 

In an emotional jailhouse interview with DailyMail.com, Pasek insisted she was not on heroin and that she had drunk a single bottle of Redd's Blueberry Ale and took part of what she thought was a Percocet-like painkiller because she was feeling so bad. 

'This horrible drug': Ohio police shared this distressing photograph on social media. It shows Rhonda Pasek and her boyfriend James Acord passed out in their vehicle while Pasek's four-year-old grandson looks on from the back seat. Both were jailed after pleading guilty to charges of child endangering

She said: 'I made the worst mistake of my life. I'll be paying for this until the day I die. 

'I know how wrong I was and there is no taking it back. I take full responsibility. 

When asked about the allegations of heroin, Pasek rolled up the sleeves of her dark green prison uniform and showed her arms which had no sign of any trackmarks.

Her public defender also told the local newspaper The Review that Pasek had tested negative for heroin and said no syringes were found in the car.