Up after handling ecstasy, addictive drug primarily (5)

I believe the answer is:

ahead

'up' is the definition.
('ahead' can be similar in meaning to 'up')

'after handling ecstasy addictive drug primarily' is the wordplay.
'primarily' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'after handling ecstasy addictive drug' is 'AHEAD'.

(Other definitions for ahead that I've seen before include "Forwards" , "What's down the road" , "In the vanguard" , "advanced" , "Forward - in front" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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