On October 1, 2026, the Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals (PAAP) will host its Annual Conference, Collaborations to Change, in the Harrisburg area, bringing together counselors, peer specialists, clinicians, and policymakers for a day of training and networking. The event matters because it directly addresses a fragmented treatment landscape where professionals often work in parallel rather than together, potentially leaving clients with disjointed care. By convening diverse stakeholders, the conference aims to build a common language and shared mission that could improve outcomes for Pennsylvanians affected by substance use and gambling disorders.
The conference features a lineup of influential figures, including Dr. Ken Martz, PAAP President, who will deliver the President's Welcome and a lunchtime plenary titled Common Ground, Common Language: Treating the Heart of Addiction Together. Dr. Martz emphasized the importance of breaking down silos: "Pennsylvania has people doing extraordinary work in treatment, prevention, recovery support, and policy, but too often they're working in parallel instead of together. 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." His perspective is informed by over 30 years in mental health and addiction treatment, as well as his roles as Co-Chair of NAADAC's National Policy Committee and full-time graduate psychology faculty at Purdue University Global.
The morning plenary will feature Latika Davis-Jones, followed by a discussion on The State of Addiction in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with 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 just a professional development opportunity but a platform for aligning policy and practice. The presence of high-level state officials suggests that the insights generated could inform future policy decisions, making the event consequential beyond the immediate training it provides.
Bill Miller, the pioneer of Motivational Interviewing, will deliver a lunchtime plenary on The Evolution of Motivational Interviewing. His involvement underscores the conference's commitment to evidence-based practices and highlights how far the field has come since Motivational Interviewing was first introduced. For attendees, this is a rare chance to learn directly from the originator of a method that has become foundational in addiction treatment. The breakout sessions cover a wide 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, ensuring that participants leave with practical knowledge they can apply immediately.
The conference offers up to 6.5 CEUs, immersive training sessions, an exhibit hall, and structured networking, all designed to strengthen the addiction workforce. Registration is open at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org, where vendor, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities are also available. For those interested in the full agenda and additional details, more information can be found at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org/annual-conference-pennsylvania-association-of-addictions-professionals/. Dr. Martz's broader work, including his books and clinical insights, is available at https://DrKenMartz.com. By fostering collaboration across roles and disciplines, the PAAP Annual Conference seeks to create a more cohesive and effective addiction treatment system in Pennsylvania, ultimately benefiting the individuals and families who rely on these services.
