Latino Overcomes Alcoholism, Plays College Football in His 30s

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Eric Castillo, who went from struggling with alcoholism and smoking to becoming one of the oldest athletes to play Division I college football, is featured in a documentary that debuts on DVD and at the Santikos Palladium theater on July 26, 2015, in San Antonio, San Antonio Magazine reports.

Castillo overcame alcohol issues and walked on to the football team at the University of the Incarnate Word, where he made the team at age 27 and played in a game at age 30.

Castillo’s documentary, The Power of a Dream, offers hope for perseverance over alcoholism.

Latinos who choose to drink are more likely to consume higher volumes of alcohol than non-Latinos, and about 8.3% of Latinos needed treatment for alcohol problems in the past year, federal statistics show.

Castillo started drinking excessively in his 20s.

He “lost his wife, his sons, his [landscaping] business and almost his own life with the choices he was making,” before he found the right path, according to his bio.

“Fitness became his road to recovery spiritually, mentally and physically. He wanted to show people that he could overcome this loss, addiction and injury,” according to his website. “Eric had a dream to play college football.”

Check out Castillo’s Q&A with San Antonio Magazine.

Go here to learn more about alcohol and its health impact.