(Sacramento) – In this Democratic weekly radio address Assembly Member Curren Price (D-Inglewood) urges Californians to learn more about lupus and the devastating effect it can have on those who suffer from it.  In the radio address Assemblymember Price says, quote “Only one in five Americans can provide even basic information about lupus, and awareness of lupus is lowest among adults 18 to 34, the age group most likely to develop symptoms of lupus -- and the age group most capable of managing the disease with early detection.” October has been recognized as National Lupus Awareness Month, with the intent of making people aware of the disease and the disproportionate impact the disease has on ethnic minorities. A full transcript of the radio address follows and a link to the audio of this week’s Democratic weekly radio address is here. This week’s radio address runs 2:28.

Transcript:

Hello, I’m Assemblymember Curren Price.

Did you know that as many as 2 million Americans suffer from lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s cells, tissues and organs?

If you didn’t, you’re not alone. Despite the magnitude of lupus and its impact on individuals, families, and health care professionals, public understanding of lupus is very limited.

Only one in five Americans can provide even basic information about lupus, and awareness of lupus is lowest among adults aged 18 to 34 years, the age group most likely to develop symptoms of lupus -- and the age group most capable of managing the disease with early detection.

And the majority of lupus sufferers are women of color. 

For these reasons, October has been recognized as National Lupus Awareness Month, with the intent of making people aware of the disease and the disproportionate impact the disease has on ethnic minorities.

The pain and fatigue associated with lupus can threaten people's ability to live independently and make it difficult to maintain employment or lead normal lives.

One in five people diagnosed with lupus is disabled by the disease.

Unfortunately, our country has not invested enough resources into battling this crippling disease, and we’ve gone more than 40 years without any new treatments.

In September, the California legislature unanimously passed my Joint Resolution 34, which broadens the scope of Lupus Awareness Month to emphasize the need for education and awareness, and to push the Federal Drug Administration to develop more treatments.

I have worked closely with the Center for Lupus Care, a Los Angeles area lupus awareness and support organization, to ensure that our legislative work addresses the actual needs of actual lupus patients. 

Recently, I joined lupus patients and their supporters who shared their personal stories of how they don’t let lupus stop them from choosing life.

It is my sincere hope that the momentum generated this October inspires a permanent movement to educate the public, fund needed research and, ultimately, find a cure for lupus.

For more information on lupus, please visit democrats.assembly.ca.gov.

This has been Assemblymember Curren Price. Thanks for listening.

Here is the link to audio of the Democratic weekly radio address:

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20071019RadioAddressEnglishLupusPrice.mp3