2026 Pathways to Recovery Conference

The Pathways to Recovery Conference is a pivotal event designed to address the unique challenges of addiction and behavioral health in Alaska. Co-hosted by the Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention (OSMAP), the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), the Alaska Behavioral Health Association (ABHA) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), this conference provides a platform for professionals, community leaders, and advocates to come together, share insights, and advance innovative approaches to building a stronger network of care. Focused on life-saving strategies and overdose prevention, as well as strengthening treatment, recovery, reducing risk, and improving access to services, the conference seeks to strengthen Alaska’s response to addiction and behavioral health issues.

Alaska faces significant barriers in addressing these challenges, including geographic isolation, limited healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, and the diverse cultural needs of its population. The Pathways to Recovery Conference aims to bridge these gaps by uniting healthcare providers, treatment specialists, social workers, tribal leaders, harm reduction advocates, and law enforcement. This multidisciplinary approach will foster collaboration and provide participants with practical tools to better serve Alaska’s most vulnerable populations.

In Alaska, recovery does not happen in silos. It happens at the intersection of public safety, housing stability, health, and community connection. For many Alaskans, the path to recovery moves through multiple systems often at the same time: law enforcement, emergency response, shelters, health care, and re-entry services. When these systems operate separately, people fall through the cracks. When they work together, lives are saved.

The conference will feature three educational tracks: Prevention, Treatment & Recovery, and Connection to Care. The Prevention track will focus on practical, compassionate, evidence-based, health and wellness strategies that save lives, reduce health risks, and decrease the spread of infectious disease, as well as naloxone distribution and culturally driven programs. The Treatment & Recovery track will explore approaches like Medic*tion for Addiction Treatment (MAT), peer support programs, and long-term recovery services that can include practical strategies for coordinating health, safety, and community systems. The Connection to Care track will highlight improving access to services through technology, tribal partnerships, and integrated care models that can include practical strategies for coordinating health, safety, and community systems.

In addition to keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and workshops, the conference will offer valuable networking opportunities, allowing attendees to form meaningful partnerships and exchange ideas. With a strong emphasis on culturally responsive practices, the Pathways to Recovery Conference will address the needs of Alaska’s diverse communities, including rural and indigenous populations, helping professionals improve service delivery and build a more connected, resilient network of care across the state.

For more information, visit akpathwaystorecovery.org.

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Host or Publisher AK Dept. of Health, Division of Behavioral Health