Crossword Genius

Stars dealing with a disease hooked by drugs (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

great bear

'stars' is the definition.
(constellation Ursa Major)

'dealing with a disease hooked by drugs' is the wordplay.
'dealing with' becomes 're' (regarding).
'disease' becomes 'tb' (TB is an example**).
'hooked by' indicates putting letters inside.
'drugs' becomes 'gear' (I have seen 'illegal drugs' mean 'gear' so perhaps 'drugs' could also mean 'gear').
're'+'a'+'tb'='reatb'
'reatb' going into 'gear' is 'GREAT BEAR'.

(Other definitions for great bear that I've seen before include "visible in the night sky" , "Large animal - same as 7" , "Ursa Major" , "star group" , "Major stars" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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