Washington County, Pennsylvania Symposium Tackles Addiction Treatment

Published October 20, 2026

About 155 people visited into the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington but not for history. Rather, the occasion marked the third annual Road to Recovery Symposium in Pennsylvania. It brought together schools, hospitals, rehabs, court and jail personnel, faith groups and county drug and alcohol officers throughout Washington County to battle substance abuse.

The event has become the county’s main venue for aligning behavioral health resources and to coordinate care at the same time.

Dueling Dual Diagnoses

Co-occurring disorders, sometimes called dual diagnoses, describe how drugs and mental health conditions inhabit the same person. Integrated treatment that addresses both at once tends to produce better outcomes than treating each in isolation, and the conference confirms that approach.

Indeed, several speakers pointed to trauma and mental health as underlying causes of substance use. Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski of UPMC Washington Teen Outreach and the symposium’s keynote speaker, framed prevention as adult responsibility toward young people carrying trauma.

“We, as adults, have the capacity to shape young people who are at risk, and flip the script of the young people experiencing trauma and not have them walk into the cycle of poverty and generational trauma. It takes connection, that means you’re there, you’re genuine.”

In other words, drugs and mental health conditions like depression and PTSD frequently occur together. Each can intensify the other when only one gets treated.

Treatment Approaches Mentioned

The symposium featured local programs including UPMC Washington Teen Outreach, LeMoyne Community Center and Shekinah Ranch Camp, alongside rehabilitation facilities and recovery center operators in the room. That continuum typically spans outpatient and residential treatment centers and peer recovery supports.

Prevention education took center stage. Teresa Burroughs, executive director of LeMoyne Community Center, described her organization’s work teaching children about opioid risks, including the dangers of taking medication not prescribed to them or sharing pills with friends.

“Prevention is not simply about teaching a child to say no to drugs. It’s about giving them the tools, the support and the confidence to say yes to a healthy future.”

Burroughs emphasized how clinicians needed support. “No single organization is an island.” That means parents, teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement and nonprofits all have a role.

Comprehensive Care Now

Washington County residents researching options can start with a national treatment centers directory to compare mental health treatment facilities and addiction programs in Pennsylvania and neighboring states.

But if you’re not in The Keystone State, no worries. People looking for integrated dual diagnosis treatment programs can search our online directory for facilities that treat both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions under one roof.

For 24/7 help finding comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment, call 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) .

Author

Quentin Blount

Content Manager

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Quentin brings nearly a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and digital publisher to his role as Content Manager for Rehab.com. He aims to help people better understand their treatment options by creating engaging and informative content that is user-friendly, factually accurate, and optimized for search engine visibility. In his free time, Quentin enjoys the company of his friends, family, and his dog, Coop.

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Peter Lee, PhD