UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                                  ------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                               September 30, 2004
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

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                           ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

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      STATE OF NEW YORK                 1-10113                 11-0853640
(State of Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)                                   Identification Number)

                          616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120
                            PALATINE, ILLINOIS 60067
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (847) 705-7709
               (Registrant's telephone number, including are code)

                              HALSEY DRUG CO., INC.
          (Former Name or Former Address if Changed Since Last Report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[_]   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

[_]   Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17CFR
      240.14a-12)

[_]   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17CFR240.14d-2(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 3.02 UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES. On September 30, 2004, Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") issued 261,309 shares of its Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock") to the holders (the "Noteholders") of a certain Secured Promissory Note (the "Note") in the principal amount of $5 million dated as of December 20, 2002. The issuance of Common Stock represents an in-kind payment of accrued and unpaid interest on the Note for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The Company issued the Common Stock in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and/or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. At the time of acquisition of the Note, the Noteholders represented to the Company that each of such Noteholders was an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and that the Note and any securities issued pursuant thereto were being acquired for investment purposes. 2

SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. By: /s/ Peter A. Clemens --------------------------------------- Peter A. Clemens Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Date: September 30, 2004