Former pop singer Leif Garrett reflected on how his stardom went south starting in the late 1970s in a recent interview with Fox News and gave advice for young stars like Justin Bieber about how not to follow in his footsteps.

Garrett, now 51, battled with intense drug addiction for years after he was considered one of the biggest teen idols ever in the 1970s, according to the report. When asked what advice he has for the 19-year-old Beauty and a Beat singer, who has recently been connected to a string of incidents involving the law, Garrett began by saying, "Do not believe your own publicity."

"Sussing out who your real friends are is full-time work" he added. "Every scum bag, every drug dealer, every chicken hawk wants a piece of you."

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Authorities in June found marijuana on Bieber's tour bus as it was trying to cross into the United States and the same happened in April 2013. In recent months the Canadian native was under police investigation regarding claims that he told his bodyguards to physically assault a man, allegedly spat at his neighbor during their verbal argument and he was also accused of spitting on fans.

Garrett, known for hits such as Surfin' USA and When I Think Of You, talked about the "bad boy image" Bieber may portray and similarities he might see in them.

"I don't know. I mean, our circumstances are quite different. This is something he really wanted to do and he achieved it. I was in acting," he said. "When you've got that sort of power at that young age, and everything at your doorstep, you put out that bad boy image. At that age, testosterone, hormones, all of the money, you see what else you can get away with. He's also doing a lot of charity work."

Garrett also drew a parallel between his past relationship with Desperate Housewives star Nicolette Sheridan to the on-again/off-again relationship Bieber has with pop singer Selena Gomez. He found out that Bieber once rented out the Staples Center for the Come & Get It singer and said when it came to his own relationship with Sheridan, "fame, money is what tore us apart."

"Nicolette just started modeling. My career was pretty much there. We would get along great or clear rooms. That's the whole thing with Justin and me. There was no in between...really good or really naughty," he added.

Bieber is currently on hiatus from his Believe world tour. He hits the road again in September beginning with performances in Asia.

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