system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does Meth flourish in rural areas?

As opposed to cocaine or people growing pot? You always hear about towns in states like Kentucky, Alabama, West Virginia and Tennessee when the news starts talking about Meth. What accounts for the popularity? Is it the availability of the ingredients? Because its easy money? Or is it because there's nothing better to do?

Explain like I'm five please.
gpt
Meth is a drug that requires less energy to produce then many other organic drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, or heroin. All the above drugs are usually synthesized (created) from plants which ether require a large open area exposed to sun (And thus are easy to spot from the air.), or a system of lights to provide energy for the plants to grow. For industrial drug production (I.E. not your own little pot plant.) the cost of setting up the proper production scheme is relatively expensive to get to make it worth your wild. Also there is strong competition from other drug distributors that can produce more of the drug cheaper (Cocaine for Columbia, Heroin from Afghanistan, Marijuana for Canada and Mexico for instance)


Crystallized Methamphetamine on the other hand is relatively cheap to produce for it's value because the drug is created from entirely chemicals means. The chemical required to produce it are relatively cheap, and available and the chemical process while dangerous, requires far less energy then growing a plant, and can be completed in a far smaller time allowing the individual to make his money back faster.

As such Crystallized Methamphetamine is simply the most economical drug to start production of in a rural area. In an urban area or place with access to international distribution they would just buy drugs from other countries. But as most rural area are land locked and don't have access to other countries to buy their own drugs then they have to produce their own and Crystal Meth is the cheapest to produce while costing the most to buy.