"Driving round in flash cars and changing them like you change your socks, wearing stupid diamond watches and spending money like it's going out of fashion in the middle of a recession when some people are struggling to put food on the table for the kids - it's not the way to do it," he said.
Former Manchester City player Barton, 27, who has one England cap, has been plagued by unsavoury episodes the whole way through his career.
His list of misdemeanours includes stubbing a lit cigarette into the eye of a team-mate, slapping a fan, hitting Manchester City colleague Ousmane Dabo and assaulting a man during a night out in Liverpool, which earned him a six-month prison sentence.
I was forced to address my issues, either carry on doing what you're doing and your career is gone, or you address it
Joey Barton
And he admitted he could have been in even more trouble had other incidents been made public.
"That's the stuff people know about - there's stuff I got away with," he said.
"I'm very fortunate, because of my profile and the job I do, and the fact I'm in the public eye, it got addressed - I was forced to address my issues, either carry on doing what you're doing and your career is gone, or you address it."
Barton addressed some of his personal problems with counsellors at the Sporting Chance clinic, which helps sports men and women with lifestyle and addiction problems, and is now a vocal public advocate of the clinic's work.
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