Addiction treatment does not improve in isolation. On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals (PAAP) will convene 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 CEUs, immersive training sessions, an exhibit hall, and structured networking, with registration and full details available at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org/annual-conference-pennsylvania-association-of-addictions-professionals/.
The conference matters because Pennsylvania's addiction workforce, like those in many states, is often fragmented across treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy roles. PAAP President Dr. Ken Martz described the problem directly: "Pennsylvania has people doing extraordinary work in treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy, but too often they're working in parallel instead of together." The event is designed to build a common language across those roles, a shift that could improve client outcomes by aligning the many professionals who touch a person's recovery journey.
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). Their participation signals that the conference is not merely a training event but a rare gathering of the state's top addiction policy and clinical leaders in one room.
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 presence is particularly significant. As a pioneer of Motivational Interviewing, his work has shaped how clinicians across the world talk with clients about change. His plenary offers Pennsylvania's workforce direct access to the evolution of an approach that is central to effective addiction treatment.
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 expanding scope of addiction care, from technology and ethics to the social and emotional dimensions of recovery. By addressing such a range, the conference acknowledges that addiction professionals must be equipped for more than substance use alone.
Dr. Martz emphasized the emotional core of the work: "When we treat the emotional heart of addiction as a shared mission, our clients feel the difference." That message ties the conference to a broader effort to strengthen the workforce that serves Pennsylvanians affected by substance use and gambling disorders. PAAP, an affiliate of NAADAC, advances the field through education, certification support, and advocacy. Registration is open at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org, and vendor, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities are available.
Dr. Martz brings more than 30 years of experience in mental health, addiction treatment, and emotional regulation to his role as PAAP President. He also serves as Co-Chair of NAADAC's National Policy Committee and is a member of NAADAC's Board of Directors. His authorship of nine books, including the international bestseller Manage My Emotions, and his newest work, Unshakable, further informs his perspective on the emotional underpinnings of addiction. More information about his work is available at https://DrKenMartz.com.
For a state grappling with substance use and gambling disorders, the conference represents an investment in the people who deliver care. By bringing together frontline counselors, peer specialists, and state policymakers, PAAP aims to turn parallel efforts into collective impact. The implications extend beyond the one-day event: a workforce that shares language and mission is better positioned to help clients feel the difference in their recovery.
