<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000855042 <NAME> AMERISOURCE HEALTH CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1994 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1995 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 57,101 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 276,122 <ALLOWANCES> 12,491 <INVENTORY> 438,664 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 778,380 <PP&E> 73,061 <DEPRECIATION> 30,301 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 844,194 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 569,783 <BONDS> 415,723 <COMMON> 254 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 844,194 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,550,057 <SALES> 3,550,057 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,355,673 <CGS> 3,355,673 <TOTAL-COSTS> 123,395 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,098 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 42,570 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,419 <INCOME-TAX> 10,980 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 17,439 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (18,037) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (589) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.04) <EPS-DILUTED> (.04)