Heroin Family Photo Controversy

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Overview

The Heroin Family Photo Controversy refers to the reaction following an Ohio city's Facebook post that showed a picture of a couple in a parked car passed out from heroin use while a child was in the backseat.

Background

On September 8th, 2016, the City of East Liverpool, Ohio Facebook page^[1] posted pictures taken by their police department while investigating a call of an incapacitated driver. The pictures showed uncensored photos of two adults, Rhonda Pasek and James Lee Acord passed out on heroin while Pasek's grandson was awake in the backseat.

They also posted the police report. Along with the photos, the page wrote an explanation of their decision to post them.

"Warning Graphic Content!
The city Police department recently responded to a call of an incapacitated driver, attached are photos from the scene along with the actual police report. The city administration works hand in hand with our men in blue to combat this epidemic and together with the law director we have made the decision to release the attached.
We feel it necessary to show the other side of this horrible drug. 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.
We are well aware that some may be offended by these images and for that we 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."

Developments

Immediately, the post came under fire for the fact it did not censor the boy's face. The following day, Reason.com^[2] published an article criticizing that and also pointing out what it saw as a hypocritical stance by police officers that they can post photos humiliating people but people can't post photos showing police brutality. Jezebel^[9] would later insinuate that the post was simply police propaganda.

The story soon gained national attention, and was covered by CNN,^[3] The Los Angeles Times,^[4] Huffington Post,^[5] and more.

On September 14th, 2016, it was reported by NBC^[6] that the boy in the picture was moving to a new home in South Carolina with his great-aunt and great-uncle. However, his great-aunt accused the police of humiliating her family by posting the photos.^[7]^[8]