<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM AMERISOURCE HEALTH AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 66,834 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 499,857 <ALLOWANCES> 19,775 <INVENTORY> 825,424 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,397,754 <PP&E> 112,542 <DEPRECIATION> 43,055 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,519,505 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 865,672 <BONDS> 656,173 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 270 <OTHER-SE> (13,351) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,519,505 <SALES> 3,532,404 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,532,404 <CGS> 3,353,351 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,353,351 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 117,476 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,371 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 20,355 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,222 <INCOME-TAX> 16,273 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,949 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,982) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 22,967 <EPS-PRIMARY> .95 <EPS-DILUTED> .95