What does the cryptic crossword clue "Smoking area I sound hesitant to install in work room (5,3)" mean?

The wordplay uses a container (one word inside another). OP (synonym="opus, “work”") + I (synonym="from surface") + UM (synonym="as in ‘to um and ah’, “sound hesitant”") + DEN (synonym="”room”") = OPIUMDEN The answer is OPIUMDEN.

Smoking area I sound hesitant to install in work room (5,3)

Guardian Cryptic #29526 | 10 Across | 2024-10-29 flower

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