The Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals (PAAP) will convene its 2026 Annual Conference, Collaborations to Change, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in the Harrisburg area. The one-day event will gather counselors, peer specialists, clinicians, and policymakers for up to 6.5 CEUs, immersive training sessions, an exhibit hall, and structured networking. Registration and full details are available at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org/annual-conference-pennsylvania-association-of-addictions-professionals/.
The conference arrives at a critical moment for Pennsylvania's behavioral health system. With overdose deaths and gambling disorders placing sustained pressure on treatment providers, the event's emphasis on collaboration signals a strategic shift from isolated efforts to coordinated care. By bringing together direct-service counselors, peer specialists, and high-level policymakers in a single forum, PAAP aims to break down the silos that have long fragmented the state's response to addiction.
The day opens with a President's Welcome from PAAP President Dr. Ken 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). The presence of both current and former state officials underscores the conference's role as a bridge between policy and practice, giving frontline workers direct access to the decision-makers shaping funding, regulations, and treatment standards.
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's participation is particularly significant: as a pioneer of motivational interviewing, his work has fundamentally reshaped how clinicians engage individuals ambivalent about treatment. His presence offers Pennsylvania's workforce a rare opportunity to learn from the originator of an evidence-based approach that is now a cornerstone of addiction counseling worldwide.
Breakout sessions cover 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 topics reflect the evolving complexity of addiction treatment, from technology's growing role to the need for culturally responsive and trauma-informed services. For a state grappling with both substance use and gambling disorders, the inclusion of online gambling and recovery is especially timely, as Pennsylvania remains a national leader in legalized sports betting and online gaming.
"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."
Martz, a licensed psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, serves as President of PAAP, Co-Chair of NAADAC's National Policy Committee, and a member of NAADAC's Board of Directors. He is also full-time graduate psychology faculty at Purdue University Global and the author of nine books, including the international bestseller Manage My Emotions. His newest book, Unshakable, addresses anxiety in high-performing men. Learn more at https://DrKenMartz.com.
The implications of this conference extend beyond a single day of training. By fostering a common language across treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy, PAAP is working to build a more resilient and unified addiction workforce. In a field where burnout and turnover are persistent challenges, such collaboration can improve job satisfaction, enhance client outcomes, and ultimately strengthen Pennsylvania's capacity to address substance use and gambling disorders. The conference also positions Pennsylvania as a state that values evidence-based practices and cross-sector partnerships, setting a model for other states to follow.
Vendor, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities are available. Registration and more information can be found at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org.
