Cryptic crossword clue
Addictive drug encountered head-on when smashed 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word METHADONE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
M
E
T
H
A
D
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N
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Addictive drug" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case addictive drug = methadone.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does METHADONE mean?

METHADONE noun
  1. A synthetic opioid analgesic, used to wean addicts off heroin or other opiate based narcotics, and in chronic pain management.

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