Addiction treatment professionals in Pennsylvania will have a rare opportunity to learn from a pioneer in the field this fall. The Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals (PAAP) will hold its 2026 Annual Conference, Collaborations to Change, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in the Harrisburg area. The one-day event will offer up to 6.5 continuing education units (CEUs), immersive training sessions, an exhibit hall, and structured networking opportunities for counselors, peer specialists, clinicians, and policymakers.
The conference aims to break down silos that often separate addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery support services. "Pennsylvania has people doing extraordinary work in treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy, but too often they're working in parallel instead of together," said Dr. Ken Martz, President of PAAP. "This conference is about building a common language across those roles. When we treat the emotional heart of addiction as a shared mission, our clients feel the difference."
The day opens with a President's Welcome from Dr. Martz, followed by a morning plenary with Latika Davis-Jones and a discussion on The State of Addiction in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania featuring Jen Smith, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), and Gary Tennis, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). Lunchtime plenaries include Dr. Martz's Common Ground, Common Language: Treating the Heart of Addiction Together and Bill Miller's The Evolution of Motivational Interviewing. Miller is widely recognized as the pioneer of motivational interviewing, a client-centered counseling approach that has transformed addiction treatment worldwide.
Breakout sessions will cover a range of timely topics, including online gambling and recovery, ethical use of AI in behavioral health, moral injury, family healing, recovery capital, peer recovery support, trauma-informed care, process addictions, and gender-affirming care. These sessions reflect the evolving challenges and opportunities in the field, from technology's role in treatment to the need for inclusive care.
For Pennsylvania's addiction workforce, the conference represents a critical investment in professional development and collaboration. With the opioid crisis and other substance use disorders continuing to affect communities, events like this help ensure that professionals are equipped with the latest evidence-based practices and can coordinate their efforts effectively. The inclusion of policymakers and state leaders underscores the importance of aligning policy with on-the-ground treatment.
Registration is open at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org. Vendor, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities are also available through the association's website. The full conference agenda and additional details can be found at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org/annual-conference-pennsylvania-association-of-addictions-professionals/. Dr. Martz, a licensed psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, is also the author of nine books, including the international bestseller Manage My Emotions. His work has been featured in TIME, NPR, CBS, NBC, and Business Insider, and more information is available at https://DrKenMartz.com.
As addiction and gambling disorders continue to challenge communities, the PAAP conference offers a vital platform for professionals to share knowledge, build networks, and return to their roles with renewed focus and skills. The emphasis on collaboration and common language could lead to more integrated care and better outcomes for Pennsylvanians seeking recovery.
