The powerful message behind this photo

Eva Holland poses with her children, Lucas and Ava, before the casket of her husband, Mike Settles, 26, who died of a recent heroin overdose. Photo / Facebook

A mother posted a photo of herself and her children smiling beside her husband's open coffin in an effort to warn people about the danger of addiction.

Eva Holland, from Ohio, wrote in a powerful Facebook post that her husband, Mike Settles, died from a heroin overdose.

"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," she wrote.

Holland explained that her husband turned to heroin after becoming addicted to pain pills. Photo / Facebook

Holland, who had been with Settles for 11 years, also wrote "If you don't choose recovery every single day this will be your only way out. "

She explained that her husband turned to heroin after becoming addicted to pain pills. "The cold hard truth is heroin kills.

Eva's post has been shared nearly 2,000 times on Facebook and has received around 100 comments.

"This is very heartbreaking. Too many people are silent on addiction's penalty. I pray that you're sharing of this wakes up and inspires someone to get free. I believe it will, Khori Smith wrote.

Another person, Brittany Whiteford, wrote: "This definitely has me in tears thank you sharing. I'm so sorry you and your children have to go through this and hopefully people will start opening their eyes to this terrible addiction."

After her original post Holland wrote a follow-up post on Facebook about an addict that credited her with not overdosing.

"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 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."