In Erie, a local effort is underway to support individuals struggling with substance abuse. As part of this initiative, Lawrence Tuite distributed free boxes of Narcan in West Erie and Harborcreek Thursday.

This event was part of "Save a Life Day," an outreach program organized by SOAR (Solutions Oriented Addiction Response), a group originally founded in West Virginia. SOAR focuses on assisting those impacted by drug use and raising awareness about substance abuse issues.

Narcan, a nasal spray treatment, is designed to rapidly reverse the effects of life-threatening opioid overdoses. Tuite explained that his involvement in distributing Narcan began after learning that a friend of his was struggling with substance abuse. He started placing Narcan on window sills as a way to make the life-saving treatment more accessible to those in need.

"The more people that have Narcan and know how to use it, the less people that will die. And the less people that will die, then maybe they can get a chance to stop doing what they're doing and go to rehab and change their life. That's all we want. We want to keep them alive and try to keep them healthy," said Tuite.

Looking ahead, Tuite has expressed a desire to expand his efforts by starting his own nonprofit organization. His vision is to help individuals after they complete rehabilitation programs by teaching them skills that foster a sense of pride and accomplishment. Tuite, who works in stained glass restoration, hopes to share his craft with others as a way to provide them with meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth.