Jared was a loving, light-hearted, fun man. Throughout school, he was a star baseball player. Jared became addicted to opiates following injury, then began using heroin. Despite developing endocarditis which resulted in having open-heart surgery to replace damaged heart valves, he still battled the needle.

On May 12, after being out of the latest treatment facility for three months, Jared injected a large amount of heroin, which, when combined with benzos and ice he tried 12 hours earlier, sent him into cardiac and respiratory failure. He was pronounced brain dead at hospital and his family made the excruciating decision to remove life support. His body continued to struggle for four days after life resport was removed, until he passed away at 5:15 on Friday, May 15, 2015 and entered eternity with Jesus.

He longed to be free of this disease and equally desired to see all of his friends free from its grip. A "friend" assisted in his relapse by offering him opana, his favorite Rx, which resulted in going back to heroin.

He would tell you that in recovery, it is vital to change people, places and things. He would also tell you that his one last time wasn't worth the heartache and void left in the lives of all who loved him.

Please reach out for help if you are struggling. You are not alone.