Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Nov. 26, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000786947
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	ACUR
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		21,033,528
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true