A simple model is constructed which allows a systematic study of the effect of local heating or non-inductive current drive on tearing modes. The current profile changes due to the heating and current drive are calculated in steady state. An extensive study is made of the properties of the m = 2, n = 1 tearing mode within this model. It is shown that the effect of local heating on the m = 2, n = 1 mode stability is extremely sensitive to its localization. This sensitivity will, in practice, be prohibitive for mode stabilization by local heating. Non-inductive current drive is shown to be far more efficient in stabilizing the m = 2, n = 1 mode. The optimum effect of the non-inductively driven current is obtained when it is positioned such that the current density gradient immediately inside the mode resonant surface is reduced.