Jordan “Joey” Gilbert Character Analysis

Joey is a friend of Tess’s who dies young of an overdose. Her death is particularly tragic because she wanted treatment but had to wean herself off MAT so that the treatment facility would accept her. Her death highlights the sometimes-fatal consequences of medical bureaucracy in the U.S. Joey’s funeral also forces Patricia to imagine what things would be like if her daughter, Tess, were the one in the coffin instead.