About The Runway
Calm, credible, human care. The Runway is the Orange County detox and residential treatment center for people who want safe clinical care and real support - without feeling sold to, judged, or priced out.
A confidential admissions team member will help you understand your options. No pressure, no judgment. Call 866-969-3686.
- Where
- Santa Ana, Orange County - near John Wayne Airport
- What we offer
- Medical detox, residential treatment & aftercare planning
- Insurance
- In network with Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, MHN & TRICARE
- Next step
- Call our confidential admissions team - no pressure
Licensed & accredited care you can trust
Our approach
We believe treatment should feel safe, clear, and human. That means licensed clinical care, a calm environment, and people who help you understand your options and name a clear next step.
We are not a luxury resort or a high-pressure admissions funnel. We are a grounded place to begin - safe detox, structured residential care, and a clear runway for what comes next.
Vechi Mutum
Chief Executive Officer
Vechi founded The Runway after living through the long road of addiction and recovery himself. As a young child he dreamed of a career in military aviation, but a difficult family environment and a serious injury set him on a different path, one that led through opioid and meth addiction, jail, and homelessness over the course of a decade.
On November 23, 2011, with no options left, he accepted help and entered detox in Costa Mesa. That single decision became the foundation for everything he does today. He rebuilt his life inside a sober living community, taking on chores, becoming a house manager, and eventually directing the community that had taken him in.
Since then Vechi has worked across admissions and business development, sharing his story at events around the country. For more than 14 years he has served as a parent coach and family support specialist, creating resources that help parents support a child struggling with addiction. Across his career he has helped guide 4,000 to 5,000 men through the aftercare level of care.
In 2025 he was named Veteran Advocate of the Year by Care Possible for his work supporting veterans and their families. He is a reminder that the hardest parts of our past do not have to define our future.
A clear runway, end to end
Recovery is a flight plan, not a single moment. Here is the whole path we walk with you, and we stay with you for every leg of it.
Runway 27 · On heading
One direction, held steady, from the first call onward
1. The first call
A confidential conversation. No pressure, no judgment, just honest options.
Care built on trust
Licensed & clinical
State-licensed care with trained staff, focused on safety and dignity.
Human & calm
Warm support without pressure, judgment, or fear-based messaging.
A clear next step
From the first call through aftercare, we help you understand what comes next.
Meet the people behind the care
Our licensed clinicians and recovery professionals lead with experience and genuine warmth. Many have walked the road of recovery themselves.
Meet our teamAbout The Runway, answered
A few of the questions we hear most about who we are, how we are accredited, and what we stand for.
What is The Joint Commission accreditation?
The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Its Gold Seal of Approval means a program has voluntarily met rigorous national standards for safety and quality of care. The Runway is Joint Commission accredited.
Is The Runway a licensed treatment center?
Yes. The Runway is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), license #300262AP, and is Joint Commission accredited. Both credentials reflect our commitment to safe, clinical, dignified care.
Who founded The Runway and why?
The Runway was founded by Vechi Mutum, who lived through addiction and recovery himself before building a place he wished had existed. He wanted care that feels like a home, not a machine, with real medical support during one of the hardest times in a person's life.
Does The Runway support veterans?
Yes. Supporting veterans and their families is central to who we are. In 2025 our founder was named Care Possible's Veteran Advocate of the Year. We are in network with TRICARE and honor the service of those who have served.
Is The Runway a luxury resort?
No. We are a grounded, home-like place to begin recovery with licensed clinical care. We focus on safety, dignity, and a clear next step, without high-pressure sales tactics or luxury-resort promises we cannot keep.
Where is The Runway located?
The Runway is located in Santa Ana in Orange County, California, near John Wayne Airport and accessible from across the county.
A runway is a place to begin again
Every flight starts with a clear runway and a steady plan. That is how we think about recovery.
Tower view
Pre-flight