Crossword Genius

Came around to middle-class taking Chinese pot and drugs (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

awoke

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'came around' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'middle-class taking chinese pot and drugs' is the wordplay.
'middle-class taking chinese' becomes 'a' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pot' becomes 'wok' (I've seen this before).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'drugs' becomes 'e' (somebody 'on E' could also be 'on drugs').
'a'+'wok'+'e'='AWOKE'

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for awoke that I've seen before include "Came round" , "Ceased sleeping" , "Enlivened" , "Roused from sleep" , "Emerged from sleep" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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