GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill	$ 8,109,000	$ 8,000,000
Contingent purchase liability			2,000,000
Goodwill
Payment obligation arising in connection with the acquisition		10,000,000
Contingent consideration liability recognized at the time of the acquisition		2,000,000
Goodwill recorded in connection with the acquisition	8,109,000	8,000,000
Goodwill recorded for the percentage payments on net sales of EXPAREL collected	200,000
Upon first commercial sale in the United States
Goodwill
Milestone payments for EXPAREL agreed in connection with acquisition	10,000,000
Upon first commercial sale in a major EU country (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain)
Goodwill
Milestone payments for EXPAREL agreed in connection with acquisition	4,000,000
When annual net sales collected reach $100.0 million
Goodwill
Milestone payments for EXPAREL agreed in connection with acquisition	8,000,000
Annual net sales threshold	100,000,000
When annual net sales collected reach $250.0 million
Goodwill
Milestone payments for EXPAREL agreed in connection with acquisition	8,000,000
Annual net sales threshold	250,000,000
When annual net sales collected reach $500.0 million
Goodwill
Milestone payments for EXPAREL agreed in connection with acquisition	32,000,000
Annual net sales threshold	$ 500,000,000