Reader C. H. points out this geographically challenged comment from the author of that West Virginia article in Grist:

MM, you’re right about the drinking stat — I misread that entirely. Corrected in post. As for social services, I’ll do some more digging on that tomorrow, when it’s not 100 o’clock.
I appreciate your insight on the state and I (and I’m sure others) would love to hear more from you about how you see the state’s problems and possible solutions. There are some great grassroots things happening in the state, for sure:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/29/coal
(PS: I grew up next door in TN.)

Tennessee, of course, is not next door to West Virginia. I can’t do better than C. H.’s e-mailed commentary: “Your geography sucks, too.”