On June 2, a group of statewide public health professionals participated in a Rural Health Summit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfi eld in an effort to decrease Illinois’ heroin and opioid death tally. Last year in Sangamon County, there were 31 opioid-related deaths, which included various prescription pills and heroin, according to the Sangamon County coroner’s offi ce. The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network hosted the summit in the format of an open discussion forum called the Opioid Crisis Next Door. ICAHN consists of fi rst-responders, law enforcement, medical professionals, drug counselors and policy-makers who live and work in rural areas where opioid abuse appears to be increasing. Sam Quinones, journalist and author of bestselling book Dreamland, was the keynote speaker at the summit. He said heroin and opioid addiction has to be fought as a community effort. He characterizes the opioid crisis as one that survives on the idea of being alone. “We tried solitary as a solution, but I think it’s time we stop believing there’s an easy way out,” Quinones said. “This is a story about community versus isolation.”