Spring - Klein Edition | January 2025

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Spring Klein Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10 JAN. 22FEB. 18, 2025

2025 Health & Wellness Edition

Surges in semaglutide

Houston-area demand for drugs to treat diabetes, obesity soars

BY EMILY LINCKE & JESSICA SHORTEN

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are some examples of Glucagon-like pep- tide 1 drugs, which can be prescribed to treat Type 2 Diabetes or obesity and have exploded in popularity, according to Houston-area doctors and pharmacists. However, a request by Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk to restrict the compounding of semaglutides—a type of GLP-1—could limit availability. “Patented semaglutide is more expensive than compounded medica- tion, and so many patients may nd themselves no longer able to aord [it],” said Dr. Deborah Horn, UTHealth Houston obesity medicine director. Meanwhile, Houston-area physicians say the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has shifted weight loss treatment. “Now the focus is to oer person- alized care plans to combine weight loss medications and bariatric surgery procedures,” said Allison Miller, Hous- ton Methodist Willowbrook Hospital communications specialist.

Dr. Todd Worley specializes in bariatric surgery and obesity medicine at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Worley said he—like many other medical professionals across the U.S.—has seen a surge in demand for Glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP1, drugs.

CONTINUED ON 20

EMILY LINCKECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also in this issue Impacts: Find out how to make a custom candle at Mixology Candle Bar in Old Town Spring (Page 7)

Premium sponsor

INSIDE

Government: Check out how the Spring and Klein area’s population has changed according to new U.S. Census Bureau data (Page 9)

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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Valeria Escobar Wesley Gardner Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Ryan Reynolds Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Kevin Vu Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Kim Giannetti General Manager kgiannetti@ communityimpact.com

Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Product Manager Kaitlin Schmidt Quality Desk Editor Sierra Rozen

Hannah Brol Senior Editor hbrol@ communityimpact.com

Correction: Volume 11, Issue 9 The names of Music Town owner Kristen Rosen and Spring Fire Department Chief Scott Seifert were spelled incorrectly.

Jason Culpepper Houston Market President jculpepper@ communityimpact.com

16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 2814696181 CI careers

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Impacts

Now open

GROGAN’S MILL RD.

1 Mama’s Pizza The eatery offers signature and build-your-own pizzas as well as salads, sandwiches, wings and desserts. • Opened Dec. 14 • 2019 Spring Stuebner Road, Ste. 200, Spring • www.mamaspizzas.net 2 Teaspoon The business offers a variety of iced tea, coffee, smoothies and energy drinks with add-ins. • Opened Dec. 14 • 6710 Spring Stuebner Road, Ste. 708, Spring • www.teaspoonlife.com 3 Divine Dogs Sausage House & Poutine This eatery serves all-beef sausages with a variety of toppings, and offers catering from a hot dog cart. • Opened Nov. 15 • 26510 Border St., Ste. B, Spring • www.divine-dogs.com 4 Wet Leprechaun Pub & Grill Alongside cocktails and beer, the venue hosts events and boasts a menu of steak, tacos and chicken tenders. • Opened in early October • 4334 FM 2920, Ste. 100, Spring • www.facebook.com/wetleprechaun 5 Petfolk The veterinary practice offers primary and urgent care, vaccinations, surgery and dental care for pets. • Opened in November • 126 Vintage Park Blvd., Ste. D, Houston • www.petfolk.com 6 HealthSource Chiropractic of Creekside Owned by Valarie and Nick Tran, the business offers chiropractic care among other services. • Opened Nov. 11 • 24345 Gosling Road, Bldg. A, Ste. 110, Spring • www.healthsourcechiro.com/creekside

SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE PKWY.

Old Town Spring

99 TOLL

2920

BOUDREAUX RD.

PRESTON AVE.

SPRING CYPRESS RD.

249

CUTTEN RD.

20A

VINTAGE PARK BLVD.

ALDINE WESTFIELD RD.

20B

1960

BAMMEL NORTH HOUSTON RD.

SP E AR S R D.

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7 Bazaar Istanbul The international market offers meats, produce and grocery items from the Middle East and Europe.

13 Goldfish Swim School The indoor swimming facility will offer swim lessons and programs for children ages 4 months to 12 years. • Opening Jan. 28 • 16000 Stuebner Airline Road, Ste. J, Spring • www.goldfishswimschool.com/spring 14 Samuel Family Cardiology The medical office will offer cardiac consultations, preventative evaluations and diagnostic tests. • Opening in March • 21848 Holzwarth Road, Ste. 110, Spring • www.samuelcardiology.com 15 Tous Construction is set to begin soon on this Willowbrook Mall retailer, which will sell jewelry and accessories. • Opening this spring • 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Ste. 1220, Houston • www.tous.com 16 Sunglass Time The Willowbrook Mall retailer will offer sunglasses and eyeglasses as well as watches and accessories. • Opening this spring • 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Ste. 1550, Houston • www.sunglasstime.com

Now open

• Opened in early November • 25115 Gosling Road, Spring • Facebook: Bazaaristanbul Spring

8 Gameday Men’s Health Owned by sisters Shifa and Nuzhat Allana, this business offers services for testosterone health, vitamin injections and weight loss. • Opened Dec. 3 • 23227 Gosling Road, Spring • www.gamedaymenshealth.com 9 Wanderlust Aesthetics This medical spa offers Xeomin—a botox alternative—lip filler and semaglutide injections. • Opened Dec. 7 • 20222 Champion Forest Drive, Ste. 500 and 20, Spring • www.wanderlustaesthetics.com 10 I-45 Diner The second location of this Spring eatery serves breakfast staples, American fare and Tex-Mex cuisine. • Opened Dec. 20 • 22920 Kuykendahl Road, Ste. 500, Spring • www.i45dinertx.com 11 Rising Aesthetics and Wellness The business offers permanent makeup and a grand opening is planned for Feb. 14. • Opened in early January • 7630 Dowdell Road, Ste. 500, Spring • www.instagram.com/risingaestheticsandwellness

19 Mixology Candle Bar The Old Town Spring business allows patrons to create their own soy-wax blend candle with the help of expert candlers. Patrons can choose from a variety of vessels and fragrance oils to blend to create a custom scent. Individual class spots can be reserved online and the venue can also be booked for private parties. • Opened Dec. 7 • 702 Spring Cypress Road, Unit A, Spring • www.mixologycandlebar.com up by Dec. 1, 2025, according to a Dec. 18 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. • 20650 Kuykendahl Road, Spring • www.hteao.com 20 Lone Star College System The college system opened four campus stores, including at LSC-University Park and LSC-North Harris, with three more planned to open in fall 2025. • Opened Jan. 13 • A LSC-North Harris: 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, Houston, SSB, Room 123 B LSC-University Park: 20515 S. Hwy 249, Houston, CB, Room 226 • www.lonestar.edu/campus-store

Relocations

17 Q Fashion The women’s clothing store has relocated within Willowbrook Mall. • Relocated Sept. 28 • 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Ste. 1338, Houston • www.shopwillowbrookmall.com

Coming soon

12 Brit’s Batch Owned by Britney Ong, the bakery will sell homemade desserts including cookies, cakes and coffee drinks. • Opening in late January or early February • 24510 Hwy. 249, Tomball • www.facebook.com/britsbatchhouston

In the news

18 HTeaO Construction on a second Spring-area location of this iced tea concept is expected to begin July 1 and wrap

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Government

BY EMILY LINCKE

Spring area growing, getting younger The population of the Spring and Klein area grew from 2019 to 2023, has gotten younger and is earning more money, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The overview The U.S. Census Bureau released new five-year data for 2023 on Dec. 12 as part of its American Community Survey, which represents a five-year estimate of the population across the country from 2019 to 2023. This data compares with the 2018 study results, which studied geographic regions nationwide from 2014 to 2018.

The data The total population estimates for the six ZIP codes that make up Community Impact’s Spring and Klein coverage area combined grew from around 247,674 residents in 2018 to 271,487 residents in 2023—a roughly 9.6% increase. Data also shows the area has gotten younger as the median ages for all six ZIP codes decreased over the five-year period. The median incomes for all six ZIP codes also increased from 2018 to 2023.

2018

2023

Local demographics*

Spring & Klein ZIP codes

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander American Indian or Alaskan Native

Black or African American White Hispanic or Latino

77389

99 TOLL

44%

77388

55%

2018 total population: 247,674 2023 total population: 271,487

Asian

77379

Other race

249

27% 16%

1960

22% 12%

77068

77070

*ALL CATEGORIES LISTED ARE RACES, EXCEPT FOR HISPANIC OR LATINO, WHICH IS NOT A RACE. HOWEVER, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE RACES LISTED DO NOT INCLUDE HISPANIC OR LATINO RESIDENTS.

0.1% 0.6%

0.4% 0.2%

6% 9%

77069

0.1%

Median age (years)

Population change

2018

2023

+4%

ZIP code

2018

2023

100K

77068

39.8

34.7

80K

+6.9%

+26%

+8.3%

77069

34.7

+12.4%

60K

+11.8%

77070

34.3

33.8

40K

77379

38.5

36.5

20K

77388

36.5

35.7

77389

35.2

34.1

77068

77069

77070

77379

77388

77389

Education level** High school diploma or higher achieved

Median household income

2018 2023

Bachelor’s degree or higher achieved 2018 2023

+15.5%

$150K

+8.5%

$125K

+12.3%

94.1%

44.5%

$100K

+5.1%

+9.2%

+8.2%

$75K

$50K

93.4%

44.2%

$25K

77068

77069

77070

77379

77388

77389

SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2018 AND 2023 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5-YEAR ESTIMATES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

**BASED ON POPULATION AGE 25 AND OLDER

SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

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Government

BY EMILY LINCKE

$4M invested in abuse reduction efforts On Dec. 10, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $4 million plan to aid domestic violence survivors. The overview Harris County has a 75% turn-away rate for peo- ple looking for help when trying to escape domestic violence, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said during a Dec. 10 press conference. The county has also had the highest numbers for intimate partner violence in the state since 2022, according to a Dec. 10 news release from Briones’ office. The Houston Area Women’s Center will receive the initial $1 million investment, according to the release. The center will collaborate with the University of Houston Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality, and the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for the project.

1st Harris County AAPI commission created A new Harris County commission—which was created during the Dec. 10 Commis- sioners Court meeting—will target topics such as health and safety for Asian Ameri- can and Pacific Islander residents through-

75% of people seeking help when experiencing domestic violence are turned away in Harris County. A 10% decrease in the turn-away rate is Harris County’s goal with the new plan.

75%

10%

$1M

$4M

is being invested to aid domestic violence survivors in Harris County.

will be initially given to The Houston Area Women’s Center.

out the county. The big picture

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The population of Asian Harris County residents grew 53% across the Houston metro area from 2010 to 2020, according to Dec. 10 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting documents. According to the meeting documents, the new commission will: • Advise Commissioners Court • Work with organizations and residents • Focus on advancing policies

According to Dec. 10 meeting documents, the county’s domestic violence plan will: • Aim to decrease shelter turn-away rates by 10% • Add texting and social media options • Allow for additional training for providers • Encourage increased collaboration • Be contracted Dec. 10, 2024-Dec. 9, 2025 with three options for one-year renewals

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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

Education

Klein ISD swears in 2 new board trustees During the Klein ISD board’s Dec. 9 meeting, Chris Todd, Denise Morrison and Nicole Doerre Peters were sworn in to serve as trustees for positions 3, 4 and 5, respectively. What they’re saying “I am truly honored to be here and to be serving on this board for this community that I love so much and that I’ve been a part of my whole life,” Peters said. While Todd won his re-election bid Nov. 5 after first being elected to the board in 2018, Morrison and Peters are each serving their first terms as trustees for the district. “I did run in 2021, and running this year, I was very thankful to see the result,” Morri- son said. “I’m going to dive right in.”

Klein ISD Education Foundation awards over $61K in grants The Klein ISD Education Foundation distrib- uted $61,357 in grants in early December to fund a variety of campus initiatives ranging from a student-led podcast and the implementation of virtual reality in classrooms to the construction of playground shade structures. Some context According to the KEF’s website, the nonprofit’s mission is to generate and distribute resources to KISD to enrich, maintain and expand programs needed to meet the district’s stated mission of excellence in education. The foundation accepts grant applications biannually. In total, nine campuses were among the KEF’s 2024 fall grant recipients.

Klein ISD Education Foundation grant distributions (fall 2025)

Ehrhardt Elementary: $20,000 Kaiser Elementary: $7,500 Klein Forest High: $7,220 Doerre Intermediate: $7,100 Kleb Intermediate: $6,500 Mahaffey Elementary: $4,025 Brill Elementary: $3,348 Benignus Elementary: $2,864 Mittelstadt Elementary: $2,800

SOURCES: KLEIN ISD, KLEIN ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Quote of note “Seeing the joy these grants bring to our teachers and principals is truly inspiring. They open doors for our students to grow, connect and pursue their purpose,” Superintendent Jenny McGown said in a statement.

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BY ANGELA BONILLA, HANNAH BROL, WESLEY GARDNER & EMILY LINCKE

Spring ISD trustees approve 2025-26 school year calendar Spring ISD’s 2025-26 calendar will run from Aug. 12, 2025-May 29, 2026 following approval during the Dec. 10 board meeting. The details SISD trustees unanimously voted to approve calendar Option B on Dec. 10 with trustee Carmen Correa absent. Option B was favored over Option A by 66% of the nearly 5,300 community members sur- veyed in November. The following are dates of note: • Oct. 13-17, 2025: Fall break • Nov. 24-28, 2025: Thanksgiving break • Dec. 22, 2025-Jan. 2, 2026: Winter break

Lone Star College canvasses runoff election The Lone Star College System board of trustees held a meeting Dec. 20 to canvas the results from the Dec. 14 board runoff elections for the District 1 position. Unofficial results show incumbent Michael “Mike” Stoma with 494 votes , or 63.58% of votes cast, while Shashanka P. Ashili received 283 votes . How we got here The LSCS board of trustee positions for districts 1 and 2 were mistakenly placed on all Harris County ballots within the system’s boundaries after LSCS staff made an error when submitting the ballots, as previously reported by Community Impact . Challenger Daniel “Danny” Meza now holds the District 2 position and was sworn in Nov. 21 even though LSCS is still awaiting a ruling from the Southern District of Texas court to verify the results of the Nov. 5 election and to determine whether a new election would need to be held.

Lone Star College System board of trustees Nov. 5 election results

Incumbent

Winner

Headed to runoff

District 1

44.81% Michael “Mike” Stoma 34.77% Shashanka P. Ashili

20.42% Paul A. Santillan

District 2*

51.04% Daniel “Danny” Meza 48.96% Ernestine Pierce

*LSCS IS STILL AWAITING A RULING FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS COURT TO VERIFY RESULTS SOURCE: LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM/COMMUNITY IMPACT Quote of note “I feel that I have been given a mandate by the voters of Lone State College System District 1, Cy-Fair, to actively represent and pursue their best interests, like a tax cut, higher homestead exemptions, and lower tuition and fees. These are my priority goals set in my new six-year term,” Stoma said.

• Feb. 16-20, 2026: Mid-winter break • March 16-20, 2026: Spring break

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SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

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Located about 45 miles north of downtown Houston, students living in the first phase of COLTON will attend Magnolia ISD, and the community will be designed to include proposed future on-site schools. With the improvements and expansion of SH249, residents of COLTON will have ease of access to employment and education corridors throughout Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, College Station and beyond. Known for promoting a sense of community where residents can live, work and play, AIRIA will deliver the same heartfelt care and detail to this master-plan design for the residents of COLTON.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

Approximately 60% of homes sold in December were in the $200,000-$399,999 price range. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

December 2023

December 2024

+33.33%

+72.73%

+9.09%

-13.58%

+25%

+22.86%

77389

77068

77069

77070

77379

77388

77389

99 TOLL

77388

Median home sales price

77379

249

December

2023

2024

1960

77068

$338,900 $280,000 $282,250 $353,000 $305,750 $405,000

$322,500 $343,000 $323,500 $422,500 $288,000 $590,000

77068

77070

77069

77070

77379

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY JENNY HILL, A REALTOR WITH COLDWELL BANKER REALTY • 713-805-0947 WWW.JENNYHILLREALESTATE.COM

77388

77389

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Transportation

Events

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

Texas drivers save time, fuel as traffic delays drop by 7%

• 6814 Gant Road, Houston • www.playhouse1960.com

January

‘Barefoot in the Park’ Stageworks Theatre is presenting “Barefoot in the Park,” directed by Kiara Fischer. • Jan. 24-25, 31 and Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 3 p.m. • $26-$38.75

Pearl of Art Gala This annual black tie-optional gala benefits the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts and will include a silent auction, live auction, dinner, dancing and live music. • Feb. 8, 6:30-11 p.m. • $325 (individual ticket) • The Peach Orchard, 1737 Sawdust Road, Spring • www.pearlmfa.org Rob Landes Attend a concert at The Centrum featuring pianist Rob Landes’s 25th performance as part of Cypress Creek FACE’s Promenade Series. • Feb. 11, 2 p.m. • $12-$18 • 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.cypresscreekface.org Valentine’s Day Dueling Piano Party The Rusty Horseshoe Bar and Grill will host a Valentine’s Day Party featuring live music by JoiLux Band. • Feb. 14, 8 p.m. • $10 (general admission) • 19940 Kuykendahl Road, Spring • www.horseshoehtx.com

Texas drivers have experienced shorter com- mute times and fewer traffic delays over the last five years, according to a Texas Department of Transportation Nov. 25 news release. Analysis of the Texas A&M Transportation Insti- tute’s annual report shows that TxDOT projects have reduced traffic delays by 7% since 2019, even though the total number of miles traveled state- wide has risen 7%. The TTI measures congestion on over 2,100 road segments, or about 10,000 miles of Texas roads each year. The Texas Legislature directed the TTI to begin conducting the annual study in 2009 due to growing urban road congestion. Breaking it down The study, which focuses on the state’s top 100 congested roadways, found that upgrades to key roads have saved commuters around $915 million annually in costs associated with gas and time delayed on roadways. On average, Texas drivers

save $125 annually and spend 34.5 hours less in traffic delays throughout the year. Per TxDOT, about half of the top 100 most congested roads were under construction in 2023. Diving in deeper Texas’ most congested roadway in 2024 was Houston’s Loop 610 West between I-10 and I-69. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the West Loop has held the top spot for congestion, and it cost motorists over $125 million this year, according to TTI data. Quote of note TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said TTI’s annual report proves that the projects TxDOT officials are working on are making a difference. “We can see that our projects are having a sig- nificant impact on our roadways, helping improve efficiency and connectivity across the state,” Williams said in the release.

Texas road travel changes, 2019-23* Annual hours of delay Austin

Vehicle miles of travel +6%

• 10760 Grant Road, Houston • www.stageworkshouston.org

-21%

+13%

Dallas

+1%

February

+16% +22%

Fort Worth

Pajama Story Time The Barbara Bush Branch Library is holding a pajama story time with Ms. Amberly. • Feb. 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.hcpl.net ‘Steel Magnolias’ Playhouse 1960 will present “Steel Magnolias.” • Feb. 7-8 and 14-16, 8 p.m.; Feb. 9 and 16, 3 p.m. • $22-$25

Asleep at the Wheel The Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts and Community Enrichment is presenting Asleep at the Wheel, a western swing and honky-tonk band. • Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m. • $45-$75 • The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.cypresscreekface.org

+3%

Houston

-9%

+3%

San Antonio

-12%

+7%

Statewide

-7%

*ASSUMES A 20-MILE COMMUTE, FIVE DAYS A WEEK SOURCE: TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239

NORTH LOUETTA 1614 Louetta (281) 350-1198 KUYKENDAHL 13313 Kuykendahl (281) 873-5220

LOUETTA 7314 Louetta (281) 370-1986

WILLOWBROOK 6927 FM 1960 W (281) 580-1734

Health & wellness

BY DANICA LLOYD & RYAN REYNOLDS

Health & Wellness Edition 2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Health & Wellness Edition! This brand new guide features the latest updates and resources on health and wellness in your community. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists. This year’s cover story looks at the growing popularity of Glucagon-like peptide 1 drugs, which can be prescribed to treat Type 2 Diabetes or obesity. In this article, we discuss this trend with local physicians and learn more about what the rise of GLP-1 drugs means for both patients and the doctors who offer bariatric surgeries for weight loss. Also in this issue, we feature a local mental health care provider, The Mind Connection, which offers microcurrent neurofeedback—a natural treatment that helps the brain rebalance and reorganize itself to heal various mental health conditions. At the state level, we’ve also included articles that look at upcoming legislation that could lead to stricter food safety standards and a total ban on all forms of THC in Texas. We hope you find this new guide useful and informative.

Premium sponsor:

Hannah Brol Senior Editor hbrol@ communityimpact.com

Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital HoustonMethodist.org/Willowbrook 281-737-2500 Houston Methodist leading care where you need us. Convenient, easy-to-access locations for primary, specialty and emergency care in Northwest Houston.

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Texas considers banning cannabis

What’s next

In testimony to the Texas Senate on behalf of the Texas Medical Association, Texas Pediatric Society and Texas Public Health Coalition, Austin-area physician Dr. Robert Emmick said he believes there’s not enough research to know how these products impact adolescents. “Kids can get [cannabis products] in all kinds of places—grocery stores, convenience stores, … literally across the street from schools in some cases,” said Betsy Jones, director of policy and strategy at Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth. Patrick said state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, will file Senate Bill 3 to ban all forms of THC in Texas. “This bill will have broad bipartisan support in the Senate, and I trust the House will also see the danger of these products and pass this bill with overwhelming support so it can become law immediately,” Patrick said.

Efforts to ban all forms of THC are now underway in Texas, per a Dec. 4 news release from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who said some retailers have “exploited” state law and are making unregulated products easily accessible. “Since 2023, thousands of stores selling hazardous THC products have popped up,” he said in the release. “Many sell products ... [with] three to four times the THC content which might be found in marijuana purchased from a drug dealer.” Nico Richardson, CEO of the medical marijuana dispensary Texas Original, said there were about 1,948 Texas retail stores offering hemp products in 2020. By the end of 2024, the Texas Department of State Health Services had 7,970 registered hemp retailers. State officials at a May 29 Texas Senate hearing said product testing is expensive, and it would take years to reach every retailer with current staffing.

How we got here 2015

2015: Texas passes Senate Bill 339, which launched a medical marijuana program in 2017 2018: Federal Farm Bill passes, legalizing the commercial production of hemp 2019: Texas passes House Bill 1325, legalizing the sale of hemp-derived products with less than 0.3% THC 2021: Texas Department of State Health Services attempts to ban delta-8; the case is awaiting a final decision from the Texas Supreme Court 2024: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces intentions to ban all THC products in Texas 2025: 89th Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 14-June 2

2020

2025

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, TEXAS ORIGINAL, TEXAS STATE LAW LIBRARY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Health & wellness

BY HANNAH NORTON

Legislature eyes stricter food safety standards to curb disease

While life expectancy has risen in recent years, Americans are getting sick earlier in life, public health and wellness experts told the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Nov. 13. For example, colon and rectal cancer are the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under age 50, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women under age 50, according to a 2024 report by the American Cancer Society. “People are living sick longer,” said Jason Karp, CEO of health company HumanCo. “So, I don’t think necessarily lifespan is the only variable to look at. ‘Health span’ is a new term that they’re using, which is how you feel when you’re 60 or 70 or 80.” Panelists said rising obesity rates were another consequence of lax food safety standards. Roughly 40% of U.S. adults were considered obese—defined as a body mass index of 30 or above—between August 2021-August 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. That’s up from 15% in 1976, according to the National Institutes of Health. “I don’t think that our government has focused as much as we should on these root causes [of chronic disease],” said Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

U.S. adult obesity rates, 2023 Health experts say genes, stress, exercise, food affordability, access to health care and more can contribute to obesity. Less than 20%

25 to 29.9% 20 to 24.9% 30 to 34.9%

35 to 39.9% 40 to 44.9% 45% to 50% Insufficient data*

Texas obesity rates

Obesity and diabetes

40%

36.1%

35.8%

35.5%

Obesity is linked to up to 53% of new cases of Type 2 diabetes each year

34.4%

34.0%

35%

30%

2.7 million Texans have been diagnosed with diabetes

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

SOURCES: U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

One more thing

Zooming in

Legislative approach In November, Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, filed Senate Bill 314, which would ban the following food additives from free and reduced- price meals in Texas public schools: Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) The FDA banned the drink stabilizer Aug. 2, giving companies one year to phase it out. Found in some baked goods, like bagels and bread, to improve product texture. Potassium bromate Used as a preservative in some packaged baked goods, like pastries and tortillas. Propylparaben Used to bleach flour and strengthen dough in items like pizzas, burger buns and more. Azodicarbonamide Found as a preservative in some cured meats, cereals and active dry yeast. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) The synthetic dye, made from petroleum, is found in some candies and beverages. Red Dye 3 Used to whiten or enhance color in some shredded cheese, gum and candies. Titanium dioxide

Texas senators said Nov. 13 they were inter- ested in tightening regulations on food additives, like chemicals and artificial dyes, to improve food safety and better inform consumers. California is the first state to ban six artificial dyes from food and drinks served at public schools, Karp said. The California Food Safety Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 28, will prohibit public schools from serving foods containing Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, Green Dye 3, Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5 or Yellow Dye 6 begin- ning in late 2027. Senators said they would like to see Texas follow suit. “These known toxins that other countries and other [states] have already said, ‘No, you’re not going to poison our people over here’—it’s time for us to step up and join in,” Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, said. “Let’s just stop the bad stuff. We’re not going to change people’s habits overnight on how they raise their kids and what they eat and how they cook ... but we can at least do the responsible thing.”

Kolkhorst said solving issues with nutrition and health require changes across the board. “I think this goes into the pharmaceutical conversation, the training of our medical workforce, what we’re eating, the discoveries we make that give us longevity,” Kolkhorst said. Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, said 80% of health outcomes are driven by “nonmedical factors,” such as access to healthy food. “It’s important, as we think about what we can do to improve the health of Texas, [to consider] how we bridge health care and the social service providers or community organizations that are helping us with food distribution, or industry that’s helping us with food quality,” he said.

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

Surges in semaglutide From the cover

Zooming in

A closer look at GLP-1 drugs

adults have used GLP-1 drugs to lose weight or treat a chronic condition—such as diabetes or heart disease.

1 8 in

The demand for GLP-1 drugs is up locally said Dr. Todd Worley, who specializes in bariatric surgery and obesity medicine at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital in north Houston. “Our [hospital’s] demand mirrors that of society, where so many people are wanting [GLP-1 drugs] or wanting to think about trying it,” Worley said. Demand for bariatric surgery peaked in 2022 at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, but demand for GLP-1 drugs began to rise the same year and peaked in 2023, Miller said. A request for data on GLP-1 demand was still pending with the hospital as of press time on Jan. 13. However, Dr. Tyler J. Varisco, assistant director at the University of Houston’s College of Pharmacy, expressed concerns that safety issues with compounded semaglutide—which he said often results from inaccurate dosing—could reduce access to GLP-1 drugs for patients in need. “Health equity is important and we want these drugs to be available to people who actually need them,” Varisco said. “I hate to see … some of these bigger telehealth providers that ... just write these medications for anybody, and then patients who are treated by local providers, who have had a quality visit, who have been assessed—they suer.”

$10.7B was spent nationally on semaglutides in 2021. A 300% increase in GLP-1 prescriptions was seen from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2022. 22% of adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs received them from an online provider, website, medical spa or aesthetic medical center. 392 reports of adverse events with compounded semaglutide have been reported to the FDA in 2024.

GLP-1 drugs perform a number of functions including:

Targeting receptors in the brain to lessen cravings/hunger A

Side effects of GLP-1 drugs can include: • Nausea/vomiting • Diarrhea • Abdominal pain • Constipation

Slowing food down as it travels through the gut, keeping patients feeling fuller longer

Increasing the release of insulin

U.S. patient GLP-1 use

To treat a chronic condition* 39%

To lose weight 38%

SOURCES: KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION SURVEY, U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, UH COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, THE MAYO CLINIC, TRILLIANT HEALTH/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Both 23%

*EXAMPLES OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE KFF SURVEYS ARE DIABETES OR HEART DISEASE.

The cost

What they're saying

The big picture

The average cost of a one-month supply of GLP-1 drugs ranges from $936-$1,023, per the Kaiser Family Foundation. Horn said the production of compounded versions of semaglutides provides affordable access. “If the compounding pharmacies could demonstrate the efficacy and safety to the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration], I would welcome the scenario as it would force the price of the patented drugs to come down,” Horn said.

The demand for GLP-1 drugs jumped 300% since Ozempic was first approved by the FDA in 2017, according to reports from health care analytics company Trilliant Health. Ozempic and Wegovy were added to the list of drug shortages by the FDA in March 2022, and are still listed as “currently in shortage” as of publication. Novo Nordisk spokesperson Eric Althoff said the move to prevent other pharmacies from recreating their own versions of the drug is meant to protect the safety of patients who use semaglutide. “Semaglutide products fit this description due to their inherent complexity and the potential dangers associated with attempting to compound them,” Althoff said. “Our nomination provides numerous examples of these risks, including unknown impurities, peptide-related impurities, incorrect strengths and even instances where no semaglutide was present in the product at all.” As of Nov. 30, the FDA has received almost 400 reports of “adverse events” from patients who used compounded semaglutide.

“At the end of the day, we have the public health to worry about,

and I think access will remain ... important.” TYLER J. VARISCO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON’S COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Cost of various GLP-1 brands*

Ozempic injection $936 Wegovy injection $1,349

Rybelsus tablet $936 Mounjaro injection $1,023

“These drugs are inherently complex to compound safely, and the risks they pose to patient safety far outweigh any benets.” ERIC ALTHOFF,

Insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs

19%

Insurance covered full cost Insurance covered part of cost Full cost paid by user

57%

24%

SPOKESPERSON, NOVO NORDISK

*AS OF AUG. 15, 2023

SOURCE: KFF/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY EMILY LINCKE & JESSICA SHORTEN

Diving in deeper

Stay tuned

surgery and medications, but more people are con- sidering different options that maybe they wouldn’t have considered even before.” The future of weight loss intervention is looking “really bright” with treatments that could continue to be improved in the future, Worley said. “From where you sit as a practitioner, you can’t help but be happy because you’re going to see a rise in awareness of options,” Worley said.

Worley said the number of bariatric surgeries for weight loss may have decreased in the short term when semaglutides first started becoming popular, but not in the long term. “The overall demand for weight loss intervention is way up, because we have options,” Worley said. “I think the best thing about all this is to say more people than ever are aware of their options and that those options still include diet and exercise, …

The FDA has yet to rule on the restriction of compounding semaglutides. If compounded semaglutides are limited, compounding pharmacies will likely abandon the market space, Varisco said. “Most of these facilities, particularly the bigger national compounding pharmacies that are very much so on the FDA radar, are not going to want to find guidance and continue to compound these products,” Varisco said. Restricting compounded semaglutides could further reduce patients’ access to GLP-1 drugs, especially since compounding pharmacies often step in during medication shortages, Varisco said. “That’s a really critical feature of our health care supply, and ensures ... that product may be available from other sources,” Varisco said.

Houston-area bariatric surgery trends, 2016-22 200K

While data regarding bariatric surgeries such as the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass is only available through 2022, doctors say demand has remained high through 2024.

Gastric sleeve Revision surgery Other Sleeve

160,609

150K

125,318

100K

30,894 26,367 62,097

40,316 30,077 19,995

50K

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

SOURCE: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SPRING - KLEIN EDITION

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