Crossword Genius

Junkie knight painter possibly keeps company (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

narcotist

'junkie' is the definition.
(junkie can mean a drug user)

'knight painter possibly keeps company' is the wordplay.
'knight' becomes 'N' (chess abbreviation).
'painter possibly' becomes 'artist' (painter is a kind of artist).
'keeps' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'artist' placed around 'co' is 'arcotist'.
'n'+'arcotist'='NARCOTIST'

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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