Try drugs before show (5)
I believe the answer is:
essay
'try' is the definition.
(essay can mean to try or attempt something)
'drugs before show' is the wordplay.
'drugs' becomes 'es' (ecstasy tablets).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'show' becomes 'say' (saying is a kind of showing).
'es'+'say'='ESSAY'
(Other definitions for essay that I've seen before include "Written composition" , "Make an effort to write one" , "Written academic work" , "Try; a piece of writing" , "Have a shot at a written piece" .)