This study investigates the role of the father in a drug addicts family. To this end interviews were conducted with ten male patients under treatment in a clinic for drug addicts in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. These interviews revealed several commonalities regarding the fathers in these families: a lack of intimacy, physical absence and authoritarianism. The mother´s role, on the other hand, was highly valued and idealized. Through responses given, we were able to identify four profiles or types of father: the authoritarian father, the absent father, the friend-father and the alcohol/drug-dependent father. Furthermore, we related the challenges of fatherhood to the difficult process of the development of the male identity. The discussion of data is based on systemic theory; therefore, what is being investigated is the role of the father as it relates to the role of other family members. We concluded that, for the family structure to work, it is very important that the father have close contact with the children, contributing to better balance as concerns the paternal and maternal roles in the family.