In an effort to curb the epidemic of unintended overdose deaths, two Chicago-area hospitals — Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children’s Hospital — have begun sending their acute overdose and substance abuse treatment-seeking patients home with the opioid antagonist naloxone (brand name: Narcan).

The drug reverses an opioid’s sedative effects on a person’s central nervous system and can be used to save lives in overdose situations.

The naloxone kits are provided free to patients by the Chicago Recovery Alliance. They include injectable naloxone, syringes and dosing instructions, as well as information about community-based recovery services.

Patients and their accompanying family members watch a short instructional video about the kits’ use before discharge from the hospital.

Over 2,100 people died from narcotic overdoses last year, reported the Chicago Tribune‘s Lisa Schencker, and other Chicago hospital systems — including University of Chicago Medicine and Edward-Elmhurst Health — are now considering following Oak Lawn-based Advocate’s lead.

Read more about the initiative here, in the Chicago Tribune.