Addiction & the Brain: An Expert Talk with Dr. Jess Cicoria

📍 Location: In-person at Mindeo (Green Lake, Seattle) and Online

Addiction & the Brain: Understanding the Neurobiology and Treatment of Substance Use Disorder

🧠💬 What if understanding what addiction does to the brain could replace stigma with compassion—and point more clearly toward recovery?

Join Jess Cicoria, DO for an informative and compassionate evening exploring what repeated substance use changes in the brain, how those changes affect behavior and decision-making, and what evidence-based treatment actually looks like.

Drawing on clinical experience and current neuroscience, this talk offers a clear, human-centered introduction to substance use disorder—framed not as a moral failure or lack of willpower, but as a condition involving real changes in the brain’s reward, stress, learning, and motivation systems.

What you’ll learn:

In this engaging and accessible session, Dr. Cicoria will guide you through:

🧠 How repeated substance exposure changes the brain’s reward, motivation, and stress circuits

🔁 Why addiction is not simply a matter of willpower or character

💊 What evidence-based treatment approaches can support recovery

💬 How better understanding can reduce stigma and lead to more compassionate support

🌱 Why this conversation matters for individuals, families, and communities

Whether you’re personally affected, supporting someone you love, working with people impacted by substance use, or simply wanting a more informed perspective, this session will offer practical insight and a more compassionate framework.

Why Attend?

✔️ Learn the brain science behind substance use disorder in clear, understandable language

✔️ Better understand why addiction changes behavior and why recovery can be complex

✔️ Explore what effective, evidence-based treatment can include

✔️ Replace judgment and confusion with a more grounded, compassionate perspective

✔️ Leave with a clearer way to think and talk about addiction

Who Should Attend?

Adults who want a clearer understanding of addiction and recovery

People supporting a friend, partner, family member, or patient

Community members interested in mental health and brain health education

Practitioners and wellness professionals who want a more informed perspective

Anyone seeking a more compassionate and science-informed view of substance use disorder

About the Speaker

Jess Cicoria, DO - Dr. Jess Cicoria is the owner and physician at Lucido Family Medicine in Arlington, WA. She completed her family medicine residency at East Pierce Family Medicine in Puyallup and attended Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is especially passionate about mental health in primary care, including addiction medicine, and about supporting the whole person through lifestyle medicine and mindfulness alongside medication.

This event is part of Mindeo’s Expert Series and is intended for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 8

📍 Location: Mindeo, Green Lake (Seattle)

⏰ Time: 7:00 PM