# Teen Anxiety Options: Side by Side Chart

> **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637)
> **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com)
> **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/teenagers-and-anxiety-a-comprehensive-guide/
> **Published:** 2026-09-04T23:01:08-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-24T10:45:44-04:00
> **Clinical Summary:** What the evidence says about cannabis and teenage anxiety, the alternatives that come first, and the difference between short relief and lasting change.

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[← Back to the Teens Summary Hub](https://cedclinic.com/topic-teens/)Diagram & referenceA visual reference. The evidence, sources and clinical interpretation are in the linked article.Options for teen anxiety: what the evidence showsOptionWhat the evidence shows in teensMain concernsCognitive behavioral therapyFirst-line; strong trial supportTakes weeks; needs a trained therapistSSRIs (for example sertraline, fluoxetine)First-line; strong trial support, best combined with CBTNausea, sleep changes; boxed warning to monitor for suicidal thoughtsExerciseModest benefitFewBenzodiazepinesNot recommended for routine use in teensSedation, dependenceNicotine, including vapingBrief relief, then worse anxiety between dosesAddiction; age restrictedCannabisNo trials support it for anxiety in teens; regular teen use is linked to more anxiety and depression over timeCannabis use disorder is more likely when use starts young; illegal under 21 in most US statesCBD aloneEarly, small studies onlyProduct quality varies; drug interactionsSummary for families. Reviewed by Dr. Benjamin Caplan, MD.About this diagramA comparison table of seven options a teenager might turn to for anxiety, from cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRIs to nicotine, cannabis and CBD, with what the evidence shows for teens and the main concerns for each. The first-line treatments with the strongest trial support sit at the top. The studies behind each row are in the article linked below.The evidence behind it[Read the evidence: what randomized trials support for adolescent anxiety, and what the cannabis research actually warns about](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-and-teen-anxiety-what-the-evidence-shows/)That article carries the cited studies, the limits of the evidence, and the clinical interpretation.

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### Verification & Medical Governance

- **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD
- **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House).
- **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`).
- **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/).
- **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637).
- **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).