Ohio Father's Heartbreaking Facebook Post Highlights Opioid Crisis

A Facebook post by an Ohio father who recently lost his daughter to a heroin overdose has been shared over 7,000 times reaching people around the world, bringing tears to their eyes, and highlighting the costs of the opioid crisis affecting the United States. 

Tim Sherman took to Facebook on Tuesday to write about the heartbreaking Christmas Eve he spent after his daughter 23-year-old Karisten Sherman passed away from a heroin overdose. 

According to Sherman, his daughter Karisten had been clean from the drug for just over a year - or so he thought. But, his 'whole world came crashing down' on Sunday after a detective called him with the terrible news. 

"At 5:50 pm I got the call from the Det at Eastlake Police that my daughter was found dead in her bed from an overdose," the post reads. "I immediately fell to my knees in the snow and began to cry like a baby. I could not believe that my Tigger had done this. "

Sherman said he was present during his daughter's struggle with 'the dragon', even attending her first NA meeting with her. 

"If you can't kick the dragon for good I will be the one to zip you up, but I will be with you every step of the way when you need me."

Sadly, he was forced to make good on his promise after his biggest fear came true.

"(When I saw her body) I was told I couldn't touch my daughter in case there was any lethal powder still on her," he wrote. "I ask for gloves and glove up cause I'll be damned if I'm not going to help my daughter One last time or hug her and let her know I Love her ... Well, I kept my word and spread the bag out and carefully placed her in it to say goodbye to her so they can find out what it was that she took. I zipped her up in her body bag and helped them carefully place her on the cot."

Sherman says that he hopes that by posting his experience online, other families who might be going through the same thing might not feel alone. 

"If you know someone close to you on Heroin or recovering from Heroin, take it from me, do not, I repeat DO NOT let someone tell you how to handle a situation, especially if it is your own child and do what your gut tells you 100% of the time."

Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have skyrocketed in recent years, with opioids causing around 60 percent of them. In 2015 alone, more than 33,000 people died as result of an opioid overdose.