Acura Pharmaceuticals (ACUR) S-8 Registration of securities for employees

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Palatine, Illinois

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 5, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements, of Acura Pharmaceuticals. Inc. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP

Chicago, Illinois

June 11 2008