<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000855042 <NAME> AMERISOURCE HEALTH CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1994 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1995 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 63,097 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 286,474 <ALLOWANCES> 12,539 <INVENTORY> 424,121 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 776,637 <PP&E> 71,049 <DEPRECIATION> 28,976 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 840,339 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 494,943 <BONDS> 645,209 <COMMON> 153 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (306,351) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 840,339 <SALES> 2,363,360 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,363,360 <CGS> 2,234,485 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,234,485 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,543 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 31,989 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,316 <INCOME-TAX> 7,757 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,559 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (11,875) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,316) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.29) <EPS-DILUTED> (.29)