Pete Doherty wouldn't "inflict" himself on women.
The rocker - who previously dated models Kate Moss and Irina Lazarou - is happy to be single because his turbulent lifestyle isn't suited to relationships and he wouldn't expect a girlfriend to put up with his behaviour.
He said: "I just don't want to inflict myself on any girl. I wouldn't want her to have anything to do with me or the people I know or my life as it is at the moment. They just don't need it."
However, the 30-year-old singer - who at the height of his heroin addiction famously robbed former Libertines bandmate Carl Barat's home - is working hard to clean up his lifestyle and has finally given up drugs.
He told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "I've come into my own head a little bit really, being a bit more honest and open, rather than hiding in a crack pipe or wherever and just not turning up most of the time.
"I'm off that kind of stuff. Complete abstinence is what they advocate - but the odd gin and tonic's alright isn't it?"
One of the main reasons Pete is working hard to beat his substance problems is that he fears people won't remember his music in years to come.
He explained: "I keep reading about people's unfulfilled potential, that's a killer.
"They'll be able to name 10 things about me or to do with me or someone I've been with before they can name a song. And that's really sad."