TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — KVUE first introduced you to Narcan advocate Daryl Rembert earlier this year.
Now, he hopes the recognition spreads the word of his mission so he can reach more people and save more lives.
As a recovering addict, Rembert said he's come a long way.
"There was a time that I was part of the problem with this community," he said.
Rembert went from being addicted to drugs and going in and out of prison to now visiting public spaces like coffee shops to teach people about Narcan.
"I think it's really important to be proactive and, you know, to do something and to give back to the community," he said.
Now that he's turned his life around, he was able to reunite with his mother after 27 years apart.
"She's 91 years old, and we just had an awesome conversation," Rembert said. "She always prayed, you know. Maybe that's why God kept her around, so she could see me again."
He hopes sharing his story will make a difference for others.
"This woman came up to me and – because she was in addiction – and she said she was considering, you know, suicide, killing herself. But after hearing my story, it was her story and it gave her hope," Rembert said.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown agrees with Rembert and wants to present his work at the State of the County Address.
"I hope it gives Daryl some of the attention that, frankly, he deserves for saving lives here in Travis County and gives him additional energy to keep doing what he's doing," Brown said. "And I think we would love to see more people doing what Daryl or doing is doing."
Overdose deaths are the No. 1 cause in accidental deaths for the county, and Brown said Rembert's work is making a difference.
"For us to really connect with people who are most at risk of dying of opioid overdoses and other overdoses, we need people who know that community and who have worked in that community," Brown said.
Rembert is saving lives one story at a time by sharing what he's lived through and what's possible for others.
The State of the County Address is happening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 24. Brown said it's a chance to highlight what they've been working on and discuss what they want to accomplish going forward.