In other words, the people of North Dakota don't consider those issues to be serious problems but a writer in New York City does.
I think they do care but probably aren't aware of those things as "issues."
I also think that they wouldn't BELIEVE that article.
They might not think that they are SUCH a problem, especially, ESPECIALLY since SOUTH Dakota was NUMBER TWO on that list. :o)
Besides, I can hear my friend from North Dakota say: "What would a NEW YORK writer know about North Dakota?"
The folks there are descendants from German-speaking principalities/dukedoms, etc., (Germany didn't become a country until 1871.) and Scandinavian countries with LITTLE influx of other groups or cultures. Thus, it's been a fairly closed society for a long time. The state bleeds young people leaving for greener and SLIGHTLY warmer pastures.