According to Dazed, high-risk sex parties, also known as ‘sex roulette’, invite teens to have unprotected sex in orgies with (at least) one ‘secret’ HIV carrier.

A trend that’s practised by people across sexualities, ‘sex roulette’ is growing in popularity in the Spanish city, causing a notable spike in the number of HIV cases among teens.

Not just HIV, but other sexually transmitted diseases like hepatitis C, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have also seen a rise in recent times, thanks to this unbelievable practise.

But why is this bizarre trend appealing to young partygoers?

First, surveys reveal that owing to increasingly accessible and effective treatments for people living with HIV, there has been a sharp rise in the percentage of young people who are NOT concerned about catching HIV – 24% were reported as “not afraid” of the virus.

That’s right, many youngsters think of contracting HIV as ‘not a big deal’.

While medical advances have given those infected by the virus a positive outlook and a reasonably comfortable lifestyle, it is still a life-long, chronic condition and experts worry that youngsters gambling with it do not grasp the grave reality of it.

Second, the appeal of this trend lies primarily in its risk factor.

“Going to sex roulette parties is about the risk, partygoers think the higher the risk, the stronger the thrill. In the case of sex parties the intense high is as you combine orgasm with high adrenaline. However the high is short term and the long term consequences are dangerous as not only is there the risk of contracting HIV, but other harmful sexually transmitted infections.”

As disturbing as it may be, this mindless new trend to add danger to the sexual connections that young people are making, is very real. All we can do is hope against hope that it doesn’t ruin as many young lives as it has the potential to.