One definition of stress emphasizes the process by which environmental, social or psychological factors deemed as stressors threaten ones well being and the subsequent response to these threats. This process entails perceiving such threats and, thus, puts great weight on the meanings and values posited in the coping strategy that follow. In preliminary studies, it has been observed that particular stressors have different values according to sex differences. Therefore, this research study sought to uncover the implications of stress in the everyday lives of women drug users. Past studies have documented links between drug use as a coping strategy and stress in HIV high risk populations. Hence, departing from a qualitative methodology, the subjective meanings of stress, coping strategies and particular stressors in female drug users were explored in their everyday context. Seventeen women recruited in the urban center of Río Piedras, Puerto Rico participated in two focus groups discussions: One for the injectable drug users, and another one for the non-injectable users. A thematic content analysis of the transcripts coupled with field observation notes revealed that stress was defined in terms of its physiological and emotional responses and the problems that caused them. Stressors around symptoms of drug withdrawal, searching for drugs and financial troubles related to addiction were also salient along with homelessness, hygiene, and sexual work. In addition, stressors that pertain to their families were found to cause stress, as the drug users had little or no family support and guilt for not being able to take care of their children. In terms of coping, the drug users discussed the paradoxical nature of drug use being both a stressor and a coping strategy from other factors.