My 5 yr old daughter is asking many questions about her absent father. She has no relationship and has never met her father.
What are the right answers that won't hurt her?

Nice but honest, why is he not present, some fathers decide not to be there for their kids.

Her father has a drug problem and has not asked to be involved with his daughter which is fine with me. She does see her paternal grandparents.

This is a hard one to answer. I am kind of in the same boat. When my little girl ask about her dad the only thing that I can come up with is that "daddy has alot going on right now, he is choosing a different life style, and all we can do is hope and pray that god will change daddy." It is hard I know. My little girl cries about her dad about every 3 months wanting to know why daddy wants to do drugs and not want to see her. I wish there were some way I can get his rights taking away from him. Good luck!