Crossword Genius

Using drugs looking for partner in the Home Counties? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sedating

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

'using drugs' is the definition.
(using a sedative)

'looking for partner in the home counties?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'partner' could be 's' and 's' is present in the answer.
'in' is present in the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for sedating that I've seen is " calming down".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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