Addiction treatment does not improve in isolation, according to the Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals (PAAP). On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the organization will gather counselors, peer specialists, clinicians, and policymakers in the Harrisburg area for its 2026 Annual Conference, Collaborations to Change. The one-day event offers up to 6.5 continuing education units, immersive training sessions, an exhibit hall, and structured networking opportunities. Registration is open at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org.
The conference will open 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. That session will feature 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, bringing a pioneer in the field to the event.
Breakout sessions will cover a wide range of 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. The breadth of subjects reflects the complex challenges facing Pennsylvania's addiction workforce, which serves individuals affected by both substance use and gambling disorders.
Dr. Martz emphasized the importance of breaking down silos that often separate treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy efforts. "Pennsylvania has people doing extraordinary work in treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy, but too often they're working in parallel instead of together," he said. "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 event's focus on collaboration comes as states continue to grapple with rising overdose deaths, expanded gambling, and workforce shortages. By bringing together state leaders, national experts, and frontline providers, PAAP aims to foster a more integrated approach to care. The inclusion of motivational interviewing, an evidence-based practice for behavior change, underscores the conference's practical orientation.
Dr. Martz, a licensed psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, serves as PAAP President, 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 previously served as Special Assistant to the Secretary and Policy Director for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. He has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, SAMHSA, and multiple state legislatures. He is the author of nine books, including the international bestseller Manage My Emotions, available in four languages, and the forthcoming Unshakable. More information is available at https://DrKenMartz.com.
PAAP is the statewide professional association for addiction counselors, prevention specialists, and allied professionals, and an affiliate of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. The organization advances the field through education and training, certification support, and advocacy for sound public policy. Its mission is to strengthen the workforce that serves Pennsylvanians affected by substance use and gambling disorders. The 2026 Annual Conference, Collaborations to Change, represents a concrete step toward that goal, offering professionals a rare chance to align their efforts and improve outcomes for the communities they serve. For a full agenda and registration details, visit https://paaddictionprofessionals.org/annual-conference-pennsylvania-association-of-addictions-professionals/.
