Addict left during rescue (5)
I believe the answer is:
slave
'addict' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'left during rescue' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'during' is an insertion indicator.
'rescue' becomes 'save' (saving is a kind of rescuing).
'l' placed inside 'save' is 'SLAVE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for slave that I've seen before include "Work excessively hard" , "One in bondage" , "Person who is the property of another" , "Forced labourer" , "Person in bondage" .)