DEERFIELD, Ill. — In its continuing efforts to combat the opioid drug epidemic plaguing the country, Walgreens has announced it is now stocking Narcan in all of its more than 8,000 pharmacies nationwide.

The Food and Drug Administration-approved nasal spray, which is a form of naloxone, can be used in the event of an overdose to reverse the effects of opioid drugs, which include some prescription painkillers and heroin.

“By stocking Narcan in all our pharmacies, we are making it easier for families and caregivers to help their loved ones by having it on hand in case it is needed,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens group vice president of pharmacy. “As a pharmacy we are committed to making Narcan more accessible in the communities we serve.”

Walgreens is also adopting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations by educating patients about Narcan when they are dispensed a controlled substance greater than 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) and may be at risk of accidental ­overdose.

In an effort to educate the public on use of naloxone, pharmaceutical wholesaler AmerisourceBergen Corp. has distributed Narcan demo devices at no cost to Walgreens pharmacists for use in instructing patients on how to administer the ­medication.