Well, that's true if there are not the high paying jobs ( or jobs period ) within rural America; because States like mine are unfriendly to Big Business, so business is attracted to "another state or country (Ireland) more friendly". Infrastructure and access to easy access airports also come into play in attracting BB. Graduates are more often "pushed out" of a more rural state to make their living. A search for adventure is also expected at this "age of the game".
However:
Again, a specific "Age Group" comes into play, as many older Americans return to more rural areas "in population, closer to the cherished dreams and memories of their roots; etc, after having achieved success, and tired of a "subdivision" Orange Cty lifestyle mentality. Lifestyles often found not affordable; as Peter has been robbing to pay off Paul for so long, for this empty suit stressful kind of success..well we know, in most cases; all about what happens there.
Then there is "relaxation time or back to reality" residency; as I like to call it, which would show different numbers. Diane Feinstein, for example, may service her constituents in California; but where might you find her "out fishing"?, in the more rural state of Maine. I could name many other notable city mice joining their country brothers and sisters escaping to for vacations and even buying homes in these areas to "recharge"or retire. Log and timber homes offering that flavor of country living are now "the vacation home to build" if a celebrity or power broker. Tom Brokaw and wife own a rural restored barn free of most what most would expect to contain luxury amenities. Brokaw says he still "remains connected to the place that raised him". He and wife Meredith returned to South Dakota to celebrate their 40th Anniversay. Brokaw wrote in his memoir: A LONG WAY FROM HOME: Growing Up in the American Heartland- "As a man who could afford to celebrate this event anywhere he chose, it is fitting that he returned to his roots for this."
Remember back to the 1930's, the "grand old camps" of the Adirondacks were owned by great Industrialists. How often does one hear, "Go pack up the kids, Honey, we're going to the city for some R&R!
Even County music has become more popular than ever; with crossover rock/pop artists joining their ranks $$$, so can't get more "down-home" in message than that.
As far as the use of drugs and alcohol come into play, I guess you have to "define" rural: "Connecticut is burdened by the issues of alcohol and drug trafficking and abuse. According to the Alcohol Epidemiology Program of the University of Minnesota, substance abuse is one of the youth's problems in Connecticut. Alcohol specifically ranks as the most accessible to young people."
One State's rural might be another State's "suburb". One local police official told a friend, also educator, that it's not often he has to worry about trouble coming from kids living in our farm families. Many Hollywood hucksters, the Internet, celebrities, for example; can highlight and promote a "cool" and "edgy" lifestyles of living fast and playing hard.It's just more "redundant copy" by those oblivious to their own hypocrisy, more often placing the blame on Conservative leaders for "dividing Americans".
But all the "funded" studies in the world, and all the 60 minute-type investigative television newsmagazines will not take away the fact that most Americans still continue to live under the old "grass roots" teachings that grandmother would refer to as, "Use Your Head" or "Common Sense".