Crossword Genius

Drug setter took after surgery (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

opiate

'drug' is the definition.
(I know that opiate is a type of narcotic)

'setter took after surgery' is the wordplay.
'setter' becomes 'I' (the person that set the crossword).
'took' becomes 'ate' (eating is a kind of taking).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'surgery' becomes 'op' (short for operation).
'i'+'ate'='iate'
'iate' put after 'op' is 'OPIATE'.

(Other definitions for opiate that I've seen before include "description of religion?" , "A sedative drug" , "of heroin, perhaps" , "Poppy-based drug" , "A poet I become on this drug" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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