It is a multitude of different factors that increase the extent of poverty. Some negative variables that affect child poverty are drug use and dependence, mental illness, chronic health conditions, disabilities, and abuse. Adults who suffer from addiction spend a lot of money maintaining their addiction and cannot use that money to care for their children. Drug use also not only affects this family, but also the community. “Each year, drug abuse and dependence costs taxpayers nearly $534 billion in preventable health care, law enforcement, crime and other costs” (Illinois Status of Children, 2014). This money could be better spent on education systems, both for children and their caregivers, to help them escape poverty.