In stark contrast to past controversial billboards like the “Deport Air” program and one even depicting a woman shooting a meth addict in self defense, this month’s billboard erected by the Attorney General’s Office is sending a more compassionate and humanitarian message. 

“Whether it’s alcohol, drugs or just being hard up on life, there’s a homeless community out there that needs the help of our government. This is an available resource that we can use to help those less fortunate, the homeless,” said Attorney General Doug Moylan. 

Moylan said the Dignity Project aims to provide a safe space for those struggling with substance abuse who find themselves homeless. A place to eat, sleep, shower, do laundry and find a job for the night, without fear of prosecution. 

“But it’s targeting for only an evening and mobilizing and working with other team members which we’re in the process of soliciting, like Public Health, Guam Behavorial Health and Wellness, Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, TOHGE. There’s a whole group of providers out there that are giving services to our meth addict community,” he added. 

The billboard uses imagery of Michaelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” to symbolize the program’s intent.

“It's essentially where you have a higher being and you have man. Man is always having struggles with life’s problems and striving for something better than he is or she is. And that is what we think embodies this program that we put together,” he said. 

A “wholistic approach” aiming to tackle the root cause of Guam's meth epidemic. 

Moylan said this doesn’t mean he’s pivoting away from his tough on crime platform. 

“We’re not here to hold the hands of meth addicts. We’re here to provide a limited help for them that they can have available if they want to help themselves,” he added.  

He pointed out meth addicts can also be crime victims. 

“You got the full gambit of violent or nonviolent crime. They’re stealing from one another, you see rapes that are going on, terrorizing, and then the murders. The most recent murder has an indication that it might have been drug related. In fact the last three [murders] are drug related in 2024,” he said. 

Plans for the Dignity Project has been underway for over a year and are still in the process of soliciting partner agencies and nonprofit groups.

The pilot project is projected to cost about $1.3 million from the opioid recovery trust fund and is designed to have 20 meals and rooms a night to be available for 365 days.