Coping training has been linked to successful drug treatment outcomes. The current research examines the association between specific types of drug abuse and specific coping strategies. Using lifetime use of each drug captured by the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA) as the independent variable, and the coping strategy scale scores measured by the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) as the dependent variables, associations between specific drugs and coping strategies were examined. It was hypothesized that drugs like crack, powdered cocaine, heroin and amphetamines would produce significantly lower problem-solving and seeking-social-support scale scores from the CSI, while producing significantly higher avoidance scale scores. Crack use was associated with differences on all three coping scales in the hypothesized directions while other drugs like amphetamines, powdered cocaine, and heroin only produced differences on the seeking-social-support and problem-solving scales with lifetime use being associated with lower scores. Other opiates (other than heroin) were associated with higher avoidance scale scores. This knowledge, of which drugs are associated with each coping strategy, provides therapists with a guideline for tailoring coping training for abusers of specific drugs as opposed to more general non-focused therapies.