Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 25, 2026
PAAP 2026 Conference: Collaborations to Change Addiction Care
TLDR
- Attend PAAP's October 1 conference to earn 6.5 CEUs and gain a professional edge in addiction treatment.
- PAAP's October 1 conference in Harrisburg offers plenaries and breakout sessions on topics like AI ethics and motivational interviewing.
- PAAP's Collaborations to Change conference on October 1 unites professionals to improve addiction care and build a better tomorrow.
- Dr. Ken Martz and Bill Miller will speak at PAAP's October 1 conference, covering motivational interviewing and addiction treatment innovations.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because the addiction and behavioral health workforce is facing unprecedented challenges, from rising overdose deaths to the complexities of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. By bringing together diverse professionals—counselors, peer specialists, clinicians, and policymakers—the PAAP Annual Conference fosters the collaboration needed to address these issues holistically. The inclusion of topics like ethical AI use, online gambling recovery, and gender-affirming care reflects the evolving landscape of addiction treatment. For readers, this means better-coordinated care, improved outcomes for individuals and families affected by addiction, and a stronger, more resilient system of support. The conference also highlights the critical role of professional development and policy advocacy in shaping effective responses to the addiction crisis, ultimately benefiting communities across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Summary
The Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals (PAAP) is set to host its 2026 Annual Conference, "Collaborations to Change," on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in the Harrisburg area. The one-day event will bring together counselors, peer specialists, clinicians, and policymakers for a day of immersive training, networking, and professional development, offering up to 6.5 CEUs. The conference aims to break down silos in addiction treatment by fostering collaboration across roles and disciplines. The day begins 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).
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. Breakout sessions will 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. "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." Registration is open at https://paaddictionprofessionals.org, and vendor, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities are available.
Dr. Ken Martz is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in mental health, addiction treatment, and emotional regulation. He serves as President of PAAP, Co-Chair of NAADAC's National Policy Committee, and a member of NAADAC's Board of Directors, and is full-time graduate psychology faculty at Purdue University Global. He is the author of nine books, including the international bestseller Manage My Emotions: What I Wish I'd Learned in School about Anger, Fear and Love, and his newest book, Unshakable: The Lionheart Path to Conquering Panic, Rewiring Your Brain, and Becoming the Man You Were Built to Be. 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 conference promises to be a pivotal event for advancing the field and strengthening the workforce that serves Pennsylvanians affected by substance use and gambling disorders.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, PAAP 2026 Conference: Collaborations to Change Addiction Care
